Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

A consequence of the amendment would be to exclude the possibility of veterinary nurses applying on their own behalf to register veterinary premises. We must have a balance between on the one hand, the established profession of practitioners and, on the other hand, nurses. In the case of veterinary nurses, there is an opportunity for them to register in their own right. As nurses will carry out certain tasks, these tasks will operate either in the presence of or under the direction of a practitioner. Often in practice, veterinary nurses who are registered in their own premises carry out post-operative work. This type of treatment, as carried out under the direction of a veterinary surgeon, practitioner, specialist or whatever, was the issue brought to my attention.