Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think it is a bit simplistic and dismissive of the Minister to talk about the farming community scaremongering or about people being concerned about this. Options have been put forward. They were pulled out of thin air. One of the options for consideration would involve the closure of some of these veterinary laboratories. Another is that they would all be amalgamated into one centre. I do not think it is unfair to expect that the farmers would become concerned about that being on the table for consideration and would make their views known on that basis. It is rightl that they should do so. People always become concerned when they hear commentary regarding cost-benefit analysis. Too often, what that means is that all of the emphasis is on the cost and not enough is on the benefit. What is key is that there is recognition in this review of the importance and benefit of the regional veterinary laboratories to the regions and to farmers who live there and that they remain part of the overall service. That service is provided to a great standard across all offices and there must be investment in order to ensure that this remains the case.

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