Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

To be quite frank I find it difficult to understand why people are so wound up about this issue, not necessarily the Senators but perhaps the people they represent. If one examines the situation one sees that vets, veterinary surgeons or veterinary practitioners can still use the word surgeon under section 54 of the legislation.

This section indicates that subject to sections 55 and 59 a person, other than a veterinary practitioner shall not use the title or description that would give the impression that he or she is registered under Part 4, such as "veterinary surgeon", "veterinary specialist", "veterinary practitioner" or "veterinarian". Under the legislation those words can be used but a person who is not qualified cannot use those titles. We feel any of those titles can be used; one can be a veterinarian; a veterinary surgeon; a specialist — although of course a specialist has a particular academic acumen; or a veterinary practitioner. They must all still do the same exam.