Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House yet again and I broadly welcome the Bill. As the Minister indicated during his speech on Second Stage, the Bill passed through the Dáil without any controversy and it is interesting that a Bill dealing with a profession received such broad welcome. We are used to hearing about restrictive practices in professions through the decades and they are loth to relinquish these practices. In fairness to the veterinary associations and those who represent veterinary practitioners, they were involved in embracing the 2005 legislation - which was a milestone - and have actively lobbied on some of the amendments to be introduced by the Minister. Considering the wide consultation with the stakeholders undertaken by the Department and the discussions on Second Stage and Committee Stage, I am not surprised this legislation comes to the Seanad without any great baggage.

There are a number of interesting aspects that I want to tease out. I was impressed to learn that there are almost 2,500 registered vets, and almost 500 veterinary nurses. Based on 2008 estimates, some 61% of vets in Ireland operate in the 650 private practices registered under the premises accreditation scheme. A noticeable feature of new vets on the register in recent years is the rise in the number of female vets. In 1993, the profession was 90% male dominated, a figure that dropped to 74% in 2007. The Minister has more up-to-date figures on that.

I am grateful to the Oireachtas Library and Research Service and I acknowledge its publication of a briefing document on this Bill. The Competition Authority noted the large influx of foreign trained vets. Between 2001 and 2007, nearly 40% of new vets registered in Ireland qualified outside the State. The authority expressed some concern over Ireland's reliance on other countries to produce vets for its needs and recommended that the number of vets being produced should be closely monitored to ensure that no shortages arise in the future.

How many veterinary students are currently in our colleges? Are the numbers sufficient? Is there a sufficient amount of work for those who are graduating? Unfortunately, in some other professions, particularly nursing, graduates have had to leave to find work outside the State. I am not aware of the current situation regarding supply and demand. Perhaps the Minister might be able to let us know about that.

Near the end of his presentation the Minister went into detail about the registration and EU mutual recognition obligations. I hope he is satisfied the Bill will take account of some concerns that have arisen in the medical profession. I am not sure whether they extend to the veterinary profession. There have been some horror stories about doctors from other countries who have not been checked by those that have employed them in our hospitals. Is the Minister satisfied the registration process is transparent enough to ensure those who may not be up to the required standards do not slip through the net if there are shortages in the profession and people wish to come here to work?

The reference to the EU is interesting. I think I am right in saying that there is no legal requirement to vet the academic qualifications of those in the EU generally. I am not sure how that applies to this Bill. The Minister may wish to elaborate on that.