John Carty (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I welcome in particular that the Bill makes it an offence for a person other than a veterinary practitioner to practise veterinary medicine. Stringent penalties, which can range up to €130,000 and-or five years imprisonment, are provided in the case of a first offence or €320,000 and-or ten years imprisonment in the case of a second or subsequent offence.

I welcome also that the Minister recognises the reality of situations that can sometimes occur on a farm when a veterinary practitioner might not be available to attend to an animal. Provision will be made for treatment of animals in an emergency by non-qualified persons and farmers will be enabled to continue to carry out treatments or procedures that were possible under the existing legislation.

There are a number of outstanding issues that need to be dealt with if this Bill is to be best formulated for the future of veterinary practice in the years ahead. The Bill recognises the need for the public interest to be represented on the council. An effect of that, however, is that the proposed composition of the new council might not include a sufficient number of veterinary surgeons to carry out effectively their designated roles in various committees. Veterinary surgeons have specialised knowledge and can provide important insights into the operation of the profession and care should be taken not to lose sight of that. This Bill is about the veterinary profession and their expertise is needed if the council is to function properly.

The section providing for a ministerial appointment to the council specifically excludes that person from being a veterinary surgeon but at the same time he or she should be involved with animal welfare related activities. Given that the veterinary profession is all about animal welfare, this exclusion is very strange. Removing the exclusion would not only deal with the obvious anomaly but could also be used to ensure that more veterinary expertise would be available to the new council.

With regard to limited registration as proposed in the Bill, it is important that professional standards would always be maintained. Concerns have been expressed that this provision could be used as a back door to register unqualified persons and that this in turn would undermine the veterinary profession. The real concerns arising from this provision should and could be addressed by specifying that the provision for limited registration be designed to deal with the outbreak of a class A disease or such similar disease which poses a significant threat to the national herd. The importance of maintaining professional standards and the consequences of any deviation from this could have a catastrophic effect on our food exports.

On the section dealing with authorised officers appointed by the veterinary council entering veterinary premises, all requests to enter or search premises should be accompanied by a warrant from a judge of the District Court. To do otherwise would be to go a step too far in the interests of equity and fairness. I know the Minister is seeking clarification on this from the Attorney General. The Veterinary Practice Bill is comprehensive and well balanced legislation and takes account of the needs of the profession as well as the public interest. It will also underpin confidence in the Irish agriculture and food industry both here and with our international customers in the years ahead.

I thank the Minister for bringing the Bill before the House and thank her and the Ministers of State for the many amendments and changes they have implemented to make the Bill workable. I fully support this legislation.

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