Results 1,021-1,040 of 1,966 for speaker:Mary Henry

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I thank the Minister for her actions. For practical purposes, an increased number of vets is required. These people are working individuals and there are many committees to be serviced. I know from the Medical Council that grim delays occur because one cannot get enough medical members together on a sufficiently frequent basis. One must often rely on retired people to attempt much hard work.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: This sort of advice should be given far more often in Bills. I congratulate the Minister and her officials on tabling the amendments.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: The Minister's amendment reflects the current position under the 1988 regulations. I commend her on having put it in again. In practice, this has worked very well.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: Senator McCarthy has put forward a good argument. It would be preferable if a time limit could be put on how long the council could go without a registrar. If a very powerful chairman has had a dispute with the registrar, the chairman may be pleased that he or she does not have to appoint an acting registrar. I am sure the Minister and her officials have discussed this issue carefully....

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I am glad that the Minister proposes to delete this section because the House is not a Government body. It is an independent authority.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I support Senator McCarthy's amendment.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: It is amusing that the Members of the Oireachtas keep ruling themselves out of various jobs but I take the Minister's point about people being busy. Nothing is more irritating than finding that people take on responsibilities for which they do not have time. I accept the Minister's comments on local authorities and thank her for them.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: This amendment is consequential on the matter of superannuation.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: The Minister has been entirely logical and has removed the part that followed on from the superannuation area discussed earlier. I am no longer opposed to the section.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: Will the Minister have other Departments read this and the previous sections? The House goes to so much trouble to have registers published annually, etc. If people's names are appearing on and disappearing from registers, they must be compiled annually. I commend the Minister's officials on these sections and urge them to pass this information to anyone trying to compile a register.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: We must be careful about the maintenance of professional standards. We have a high professional reputation in this country and internationally. I support the amendment.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: The Minister has made her case well. Happily, the veterinary council includes many veterinary practitioners who will not want to see their profession denigrated in any way. The Minister has put the case well for this provision to deal with an emergency or pandemic.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I thank the Minister for moving this amendment and thank her officials for pointing it out to me before we came into the House so that I do not have to waste energy later. This issue is very important because practitioners must keep up with the many changes in the professions. The Minister's proposal is adequate to cover this problem. Someone who said he or she was an equine specialist in...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I agree with the Minister.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: The Minister has gone a long way to try to deal with this issue which is a bit nebulous. My concern was that if the price of sheep was low, and someone began to do a caesarean section on them if they were having trouble lambing, calling a vet may cost more than the value of the lamb. How often could this happen on one farm before one would take notice of it? The Minister has gone a long way...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I support what Senator Scanlon has said and would not like anyone to think I was suggesting this often happened. Unfortunately, it is the notorious cases which are often well-known in an area. This probably does not apply to best practice farmers. Are we sure we can be sufficiently vigilant with regard to these cases? I do not know whether the Minister can do more than rely on those who have...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I thank the Minister; the amendment entirely deals with my concern. Students must have some practice and that is why it is important to include that they must practice under supervision.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: It is important to leave the position as it is. There are dreadful problems with people who claim to have degrees and diplomas they do not possess. Given that this is an international scandal, the public must be protected. It is unfortunate that the most rigorous measures have to be taken to prevent such claims being made. It is shocking to do this to the public and it debases any degrees a...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: I thank the Minister. I am totally confused after that explanation. Veterinary anaesthetics come under the Medicines Act and can only be given by a veterinary surgeon-practitioner.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Henry: Will that continue to be the position under the Bill?