Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

I raise this issue because farmers have told me they believe the bureaucracy and red tape in agriculture have gone too far, citing this regulation as evidence. As the proposals at European Commission level stand, wormers and medicines such as vaccines will require prescription as of 1 January 2007. Does the Minister have the support of other Ministers for the proposals she has put forward to the European Commission and the Council of Ministers? My understanding is that she has very little support. In case the Minister fails to overturn the Commission's current position on the introduction of prescription-only medicines, will she now put forward draft proposals on the implementation of new regulations to allow for people other than vets to write prescriptions?

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