Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

This section is concerned with the making of regulations by the council as regards programmes of further education to be undertaken by veterinary practitioners and nurses. As such the provision represents an important new dimension to regulation of the profession by bringing in the concept of continuing professional development. Section 67(6) is designed to ensure that the affected providers have appropriate appeals procedures available to them.

The Attorney General's office has reviewed the section suggesting three amendments which are designed to improve a construction from a legal drafting perspective. This amendment, along with amendment Nos. 84 to 86, inclusive, does not make a substantive change to the meaning of the subsection.

I thank Senator McCarthy for spotting the punctuation error in section 67(4) on line 30. Amendment No. 83 will delete the offending comma.