Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Under section 16(1), the Minister has considerable scope in making appointments to the council. For example, under subsection (a), the appointee who is registered or is eligible to be registered under Part 4 may be a veterinary practitioner. Subsection (b) provides that there must be two appointees who are not eligible to be registered but at least one of whom avails of veterinary services in the course of business, trade or profession, such as a farmer. Subsection (c) is the one relevant to this amendment and it stipulates that there must be one appointee who is not eligible to be registered but who performs functions relating to animal welfare. If I had not been so specific, we could end up with four vets being appointed.