Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Section 57 is designed to ensure the public is not misled as a result of registered persons displaying on signage on their premises a title or qualification they do not possess. By definition, this concerns titles or qualifications relating to veterinary practice. Sections 43, 47 and 51 provide a comprehensive framework for registration of all relevant aspects relating to a person's qualification, including specialised and additional qualifications. Similarly, section 108 provides the council with adequate means of controlling the description to be used in various types of premises. Accordingly, if a registered person misleadingly uses any such terms he or she will have committed an offence. Therefore, it is appropriate that section 57 should refer to qualifications and so on which are registered and I would not be in a position to accept the amendment.