Results 4,541-4,560 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 128: In page 86, subsection (3), line 36, to delete "dwelling" and substitute "premises". This amendment comes under the same umbrella as its immediate predecessor and I accept the Minister's previous contribution in this regard.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 132: In page 89, subsection (2), line 33, to delete "1963 to 2001" and substitute "1963 to 2003". This is merely a drafting amendment to take into account the passing of the Companies Act 2003.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 133: In page 92, line 41, after "16(1)" to insert "and a statement of such reasons shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas". This amendment intends to ensure that the Minister is required to inform the Oireachtas of the reason or reasons for the removal of any member of the council.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: While I accept that there may be a generic approach to board appointments, there is an issue of accountability. There is always a debate about this House's usefulness, the manner in which announcements are made and the relationship between the Oireachtas and State and public bodies. I ask the Minister to examine the issue. Members are entitled to this type of information and to expect the...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I also thank the Minister and her officials for being so helpful and for accepting so many amendments. I look forward to concluding our deliberations on the Bill on that basis. Some 135 amendments were tabled and there was little disagreement on most of them. During the past two and a half years, when Deputy Joe Walsh was Minister for Agriculture and Food, one Bill — the An Bord Bia...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: For the purposes of clarity, section 78(4)(c) of the Bill reads as follows: "evidence that the Fitness to Practise Committee decides is appropriate to and will assist it with its inquiry, such as the testimony of a person who has expertise in an area of veterinary science, or any other area that is relevant to the inquiry, or the testimony of the applicant." My amendment proposes to delete...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister for her reply. Perhaps we will revisit the matter on Report Stage for the purposes of clarity. I accept that is the Attorney General's advice but perhaps the Minister will accept the amendment on Report Stage.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 90: In page 57, subsection 6(a), line 16, after "oath" to insert "or affirmation". I tabled this amendment in previous legislation. I was very intent on tabling the amendment in order to insert the words "or affirmation". As I explained previously, there are a whole host of reasons for tabling the amendment. For example, the oath might not have the same standing for...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: It depends on how far-stretched my resources will be. Senator Henry raised an important point in regard to the lack of value people may place on taking an oath and the manner in which people can be disrespectful towards taking an oath. The majority of good thinking people are not like that, but there are people who will say anything to get them out of a situation. This has been borne out in...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister and will pass on the available advice.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 98: In page 63, subsection (1), line 31, after "appropriate" to insert "if the Council is of the opinion that the offence is such as to render the person unfit to practise veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing, as the case may be". As it stands, section 84 is flawed because there is no test, criteria or requirement by which the council can judge a person should be...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: The wording addresses the situation from the viewpoint of the offence, in that the offence itself would render whether the person was fit to practise. The wording addresses the offence and not personal issues. There is currently nothing to allow the council to make such a judgment. We are referencing section 48(2)(d), which uses general wording to make it clear that merely being convicted of...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: I will not ask the Minister to repeat any of her reply. On the issue of veterinary nursing there is a general school of thought that the profession has been recognised in that people, out of a love for animals, study to become veterinary nurses. A diploma course is available in Ballsbridge.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McCarthy: Up to then there was a diploma course in only one of the institutes of technology, perhaps Athlone. In general, this profession which is associated with veterinary practice is being recognised. There are courses that offer the facility to those who wish to become veterinary nurses and there is a good chance of obtaining a third-level qualification in that area. The veterinary nurse is an...

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

Michael McCarthy: I acknowledge the Minister's response but it is important to reiterate that those involved in the profession want to ensure that the same standards of delivery to customers should apply no matter who is the practitioner. One sees young graduates from other countries beyond the European Union working in veterinary practices around the country. They cope well and are as capable of practising...

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

Michael McCarthy: How sure was the Minister when she maintained Members knew what necropsy was to begin with? I accept the Minister's pragmatism and her worthwhile and timely intervention.

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

Michael McCarthy: The most important phrase in the Minister's response was "welfare of the animal", which is enshrined in my amendment No. 60. It is a technical amendment to ensure that reference to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1931 can be avoided. The Minister has accepted the general principle which is based on the welfare of the animal. I accept what Senator Henry said that it is an expensive business to...

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

Michael McCarthy: I too thank the Minister for dealing with this in terms of her own amendment. We discussed the matter on Second Stage. Graduates leave the veterinary college after six years of very hard study and then arrive on to the practical field of their profession with, in some cases, no internship and, therefore, no experience. They might have the knowledge but they would not have the practical...

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

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 65: In page 43, line 10, to delete ", the details of which are registered on the Register". If the Minister has spare civil servants, perhaps she would dispatch them to Members who have tabled too many amendments. My amendment deals with the details registered on the register. Section 57, as drafted, would make it a criminal offence for a vet to advertise or use any...