Results 14,781-14,800 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: This amendment is consequential on amendment No. 122.

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

Mary Coughlan: This amendment arises as a consequence of an amendment to section 123. By inserting a reference to section 123 in this section, the penalties for what are summary offences can be applied to failures to display a certificate of suitability.

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

Mary Coughlan: An authorised officer must obtain a search warrant in order to enter a premises. There is a substantive concern here and I propose to deal with it in an amendment to the next section.

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

Mary Coughlan: I have considered this issue. As the legislation stands, the officers of the Veterinary Council can enter one's practice without a warrant if one is registered but cannot enter one's home. A search warrant would be required in the case of those who are not registered. I will reconsider the position. Perhaps we are going a little too far and perhaps search warrants should be required in all...

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

Mary Coughlan: As the Bill stands, one would not be allowed to enter a veterinarian's home without a search warrant. If his practice was in the home, one could only get into the practice and not the home. This stipulation could be superfluous, however, particularly if the point of entry for both is the same. In light of the fact that many vets have stated that this provision is a little over the top, I will...

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

Mary Coughlan: That is correct.

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

Mary Coughlan: That is a practical issue and advice is being sought thereon from the Attorney General. I hope to address the issue clearly and definitively on Report Stage.

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

Mary Coughlan: I am protecting the interests of my Department. If State premises are not excluded, the council would have access to the Department of Agriculture and Food, in which veterinary practitioners who come under my regulation, as opposed to that of the council, are employed. This would mean that the Department could be raided. I know some of the Senators would love that to happen. I am excluding...

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

Mary Coughlan: Is the Senator referring to activities such as testing? Such activities do not come within the ambit of this legislation.

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

Mary Coughlan: Issues of this nature have arisen in certain parts of the country and discussions in respect of them remain ongoing. However, that matter falls outside the ambit of the legislation. We are concerned with granting the council access to members who, under the council's rules and regulations, may be behaving in an untoward fashion. We excluded the State, as it has its own rules and regulations....

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

Mary Coughlan: Amendment No. 129 involves removing the term "place" substituting it with that of "premises". This will address the concerns of Senators Moylan and Quinn. We are making specific provision in respect of empowerment to obtain search warrants to enter State premises.

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

Mary Coughlan: I thank the Senator for drawing attention to the error in this section of the Bill, as published, wherein the reference to the Companies Acts should cover the period from 1963 to 2003 and not 1963 to 2001. The draft amendment will correct this.

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

Mary Coughlan: This idea is new to me. I cannot accept the amendment as it is somewhat gratuitous. The implication is that if I, or any Minister, decide to remove a nominee, as opposed to an individual who was elected or recommended, I would be obliged to inform the Oireachtas as to the reason for the removal. There could be personal or other reasons a political nominee might be removed from a board. It...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Senator has made a pragmatic decision.

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

Mary Coughlan: This is a textual amendment to correct a slight mistake in the published version of the Bill.

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

Mary Coughlan: I thank the Members. So far, it has been a very constructive debate with much discussion and food for thought.

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

Mary Coughlan: The Senator is pushing his luck.

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

Mary Coughlan: The Senator should make a recommendation.

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

Mary Coughlan: I may end up here myself.

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

Mary Coughlan: We discussed that issue on Second Stage within the context of the section. I went back to the Attorney General on the basis of the concerns expressed. He advised me that as it stands it is legally sound. The option has been given to the fitness to practise committee where it is considered appropriate to call for direct testimony from the complainant over and above the original complaint,...