Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with these separately. We held a discussion on the matter on Committee Stage. Deputy Ó Cuív sought to set up two classes of authorised officer. The first was an officer of the Minister, who, I understood at the time, was to be a veterinary surgeon or somehow more qualified than a person who was simply an authorised officer under the provisions we are discussing. I took the view that it was unnecessary to have two classes of inspector and that authorised officers should simply be authorised officers. That is why I do not propose to accept amendment No. 36.

Amendment No. 38 relates to the animal health and welfare notice, a concept we are introducing in the Bill whereby an authorised officer can give what is essentially a yellow card to someone. I believe this is a good concept, as it gives an option to an authorised officer to give a welfare notice to someone who may be compromising welfare without having to go to court. To make a distinction between inspectors of the Minister and authorised officers confuses the situation. The important points about the issuing of welfare notices are that the person must engage in consultation before he does so and that there are systems to ensure that notices are given out only in appropriate circumstances. I believe those systems are in place. I am afraid I do not propose to accept these two amendments.

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