Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McNamara. I will complete the points I was making. The Department's view was that there was an absence of a sound veterinary medicine evidential basis for a partial or full decoupling. As a result, decoupling does not currently appear to be a viable option. The Department shared the outcome of these advices with the members of the antiparasitic resistance stakeholders group. In response to concerns raised about prescribing particular branded veterinary medicines, I intend to permit substitute medicines to be dispensed, that contain the same active substances as the main prescribed medicine. This will sustain competition for all suppliers of veterinary medicines, to the benefit of Irish farmers and their livestock. Antimicrobial resistance and antiparasitic resistance both pose significant challenges to Irish farmers and, indeed, to human health, as a follow-on. It is an important issue and it is crucial that we addresses it in a serious manner that is required. Obviously, there is an EU regulation with which we have to be legally compliant.

Our legal advice is clear that it requires prescription-based issuing. The key thing that I am trying to achieve is that it does not impact on the capacity for competition in the market and that we find a mechanism where we can have it on a prescription basis but that competition remains, with continuing availability of sources of the prescription for farmers. It is a significant issue for licensed merchants, for whom it is a key part of their business. We are cognisant of that concern. I am continuing to work through this and looking at the situation to try to find a way that ensures that we are compliant, that we address the issues of antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance, that we ensure that there is competition in the market and that we do not add costs to farmers. I thank Deputy McNamara for raising it.

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