Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the qualifications of veterinarians who received their credentials from a university (details supplied) are recognised here as sufficient to practice veterinary medicine here; if these qualifications are not recognised as such the framework in which such persons may become qualified to practice veterinary medicine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34395/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Veterinary Council of Ireland is the body designated under law with responsibility for recognition of qualifications in order to practice as a veterinary practitioner in Ireland. Hitherto, the council was constrained by the legislation as regards recognition of third country qualifications inasmuch as it could only do so where there are mutual recognition arrangements extant. There are no such arrangements currently in place with the country in which the university referred to is located.

However, under the new Veterinary Practice Act 2005, which will come into effect on 1 January next, the Council will be enabled to recognise a veterinary qualification from a third country where it considers it to be of equivalent standard to the Irish qualification. The council is also enabled, where it considers this to be necessary, to require an applicant to sit an examination to ensure that the training he or she has is of the required standard.