Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be associated with the Minister's comments. I thank him personally. This Bill has been mooted since the European regulation came in more than two years ago. There have been many discussions on it. As the Minister said, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine had many meetings concerned with this issue, even prior to the pre-legislative scrutiny process. There was much engagement with all the stakeholders. Senator Boyhan is also a member of that committee. During all that time, I do not think the focus was ever taken off, by the committee or any member, the importance of the issue of antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance, as the Minister said, and the one health policy.

Regarding the veterinary medicine and fertiliser aspects of this legislation, one issue that was very prominent was having an all-island policy. With the UK no longer in the EU, we could have created potential difficulties if we did not get this Bill right. I welcome, however, the legislation as passed today. I assume the Government amendments we have passed today will also pass through the Dáil.

I also wish to be associated with the Minister's extension of thanks to his officials in the Department who have worked so hard on this legislation and also to all the stakeholders who engaged on this issue. The Bill as presented now is an amicable solution to a problem. The issue of the availability of medicines is equally important as getting the prescribing right and the control of the resistance issues, as the Minister again said. This was an issue for many people.

The end of this saga will be the Minister's issuing of the statutory instrument. We will be keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the Minister until that has been written and released. I suppose we can then move on to our next challenge. I again thank the Minister for his personal engagement with me and his engagement with the committee and the stakeholders during this process. I again thank his officials and all the stakeholders. Many compromises were made by everybody. We are a long way from what was being suggested when this measure was first mooted two years ago. Everybody involved has moved a long way. This in itself is compromise and good compromise will always result in good legislation. I again thank everybody and welcome the passing of the Bill.