Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I had the opportunity to meet the representatives and we had a robust conversation on this issue. There are concerns that this provision could be used as a backdoor to register unqualified persons. This would undermine the veterinary profession. That is not my intention. While the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001 was limited in geographical scope, it showed the pressure a large outbreak could put on the veterinary service. We need to be aware that a disease episode could occur throughout the EU or throughout the hemisphere. In that case we could not call on practitioners elsewhere in the European Union. We have educational recognition throughout the EU, but if something were to affect the entire Union there would be restrictions on who I could call. I think it prudent to make provision for an exceptional recognition mechanism, which would allow persons with requisite skills, such as trainee vets from other countries, to be taken in expeditiously. They would carry out specific tasks determined by the council.

The Senator is correct, because if we define it as a class A disease it may change. Hopefully, we will introduce new legislative proposals on animal diseases. Important safeguards are in place. The council must be satisfied that it is appropriate to activate this provision. There is also an education committee, provided for under section 66, that advises the council. The grounds for limited registration are specified under section 46(2). Conditions can also be attached, such as conditions of time, geographical limits or operating under supervision. It is not an opportunity for unregistered people to practise as veterinary practitioners. We are enabling the council to make a decision in the event of a pandemic. Unfortunately, this is something of which we must be aware.

I have expressed my views to the veterinary council. It has no problem with suitably qualified people coming in. We may need this, as many retiring practitioners are not being replaced, especially in rural Ireland. We may have to consider encouraging people to remain in rural Ireland to provide a service. Allowing this service to be provided is vital for the welfare of our animals and for our disease status. This is not a quick-fix solution but is only for certain time periods and particular pandemics. We may discover a disease that we do not have time to classify. It is prudent to allow the council to work instantaneously as this is appropriate for the disease status of this country. I have reassured the veterinary practitioners.