Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The amendment inserts a provision whereby the "dispensing of a veterinary medicinal product prescribed for an animal to which the European Union (Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes) Regulations 2012 (S. I. No. 543 of 2012) applies by a veterinarian where the prescription for the product has been prescribed by another veterinarian".This amendment is necessary to allow the Minister to make regulations for the dispensing of veterinary medicinal products in a research environment.

Amendment No. 7 is necessary as the matter is deemed substantive. This provision continues the current practice of allowing a veterinarian not to provide a veterinary prescription for a companion animal if the owner of the animal agrees. The owner of such an animal may, of course, request a prescription and a prescription must be issued in such circumstances.