Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

That is a fair point. I envisage that, from an agricultural perspective, there will not be any change to existing practice. Departmental veterinarians who understand farming and agricultural practice will be involved. Veterinarians have varying levels of experience and qualifications. If one is to carry out a farm inspection, one needs to understand how farming, livestock management and husbandry work, and one must have an understanding of all the associated regulations.

I would like to see veterinary nurses having a role with regard to animal cruelty outside the farm setting. Legislation was finalised this year giving more recognition to the qualifications of veterinary nurses. The standards applying to that category have been improved in recent years. There is an opportunity to include some veterinary nurses. In limited circumstances, we should consider service agreements with organisations that have a proven track record in animal welfare, including the ISPCA and, perhaps, the Dogs Trust. We would need to sit down with these organisations and be absolutely satisfied that the kinds of people who will become authorised officers will have the necessary experience, qualifications and judgment to make consistent decisions, as opposed to decisions driven by ideology or what may be very well-meaning views.

Ultimately, we must operate according to a code of standards consistent with the legislation we are now passing. We require very consistent application of the law by all the authorised officers. There are many very qualified and experienced staff already inspecting, acting upon and reporting on animal welfare cases. It would be a waste to ignore the skill set of many of the experienced staff and not to have them as authorised officers working with us. I assure the Senator I will be quite cautious in putting in place the service level agreements. It is important that we do not undermine the credibility of authorised officers generally by employing one or two people who will give the whole service a name it does not deserve. A balance must be struck but I assure the Senator I am very sensitive to it.