Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate from where the profession is coming regarding amendment No. 17. It does not want to see what is commonly termed "yellow packs". This is not the situation. This provision will only be invoked in the case of a disease eradication programme where there is an epidemic or pandemic. I evaluated this matter. Section 66(2) states: "For the purposes of subsection (1) the Council shall consider any relevant recommendations furnished to it by the Education Committee under section 63." I assume the education committee would have the necessary prerequisites to determine whether people were qualified. This is not a determination of a permanent registration of the council or having a permanent post in the State. To be permanently registered, a person would have to be qualified and meet the same requirements as other vets.

The purpose of this provision is to enable the Department, in due course, to address the fact that many vets are not entering conventional veterinary practice and choosing instead to work with pets rather than large animals. Vets have always worked with the farming organisations and the Department in carrying out a broad programme of disease eradication and inspection and have developed a good relationship with the farming fraternity. Unfortunately, however, the position is changing because some areas are no longer serviced by vets.

The Department must have emergency legislation available to it to address any pandemic or epidemic that may arise. Registration would be temporary and the people in question would be deregistered once the task at hand was completed. This means, for example, that a person from Australia, New Zealand or elsewhere brought here for a specific purpose would be deregistered as soon as the issue in question had been addressed. He or she would not be allowed to remain registered or establish a practice without holding the necessary qualifications.

The Department is examining the possibility of introducing a consolidation Bill to address the issue of Class A and B diseases. Given that diseases evolve and change, it is possible that a Class B disease or an unknown entity could become a Class A disease. The provision introduces flexibility in dealing with unknown entities because the Department may need to take immediate action without first making classifications.

I appreciate that the Veterinary Council of Ireland and the Irish Veterinary Union are concerned the provision will allow individuals to circumvent the requirements their members had to meet prior to registration. Their concerns are unfounded, however, because any persons brought here must be qualified to perform the tasks they are requested to undertake. In the circumstances provided for they will, in the main, act under the instructions of departmental vets who will determine which tasks they will carry out.

I am concerned to ensure Ireland continues to have a cohort of vets and avoids circumstances such as those prevailing in the United Kingdom where large areas and counties have no veterinary practices providing veterinary services. This is a frightening prospect and one which the Department may have to evaluate in due course.

As I stated, the Bill makes provision for a temporary, emergency arrangement. This is an enabling provision which I hope will never be used. It introduces the flexibility required to deal with disease and will only be invoked in the event of an emergency. If something untoward happens, we will deal with it in due course.