Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 592: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that graduates of the veterinary nursing course from Athlone Institute of Technology are being refused validation by the Veterinary Council of Ireland; the problems that this is causing as all veterinary nurses had to complete registration by 1 July 2008; if his further attention has been drawn to plans to review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26947/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will intercede with the Veterinary Council of Ireland and Athlone Institute of Technology in relation to the accreditation of the veterinary nursing course in view of the fact that many students have recently qualified from that course but are unable to register as veterinary nurses or gain employment as the course is not accredited. [27217/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 606 together.

The Veterinary Practice Act 2005 substantially reformed regulation of veterinary practice in Ireland, including formal recognition for the first time of the veterinary nursing profession.

The Act provides that day to day regulation of the professions is vested in the Veterinary Council of Ireland in accordance with the principles laid down in the legislation. This role includes responsibility for determining the standards of education required for registration as a veterinary practitioner or a veterinary nurse (Section 13(2)(d) of the Act). To assist it in carrying out this role, the Act (Sections 62 and 63) requires the Council to have in place and consult with a Veterinary Education and Training Committee, which Committee must by law include nominees of the Minister for Education and the National University of Ireland.

It should be noted that, while the Act was signed into law in mid 2005 and that most of its provisions came into effect on 1 January 2006, a three-year lead in period was provided for before registration of veterinary nurses became mandatory. In addition, special provision is made under the Act for those who had been engaged in the practice of veterinary nursing prior to October 2004, when the then draft legislation was initially brought before the Oireachtas. This provides that such persons may be provisionally registered by the Council for 5 years to enable them to bring their formal educational qualifications up to the standard set by the Council.

Given the role assigned by law to the Council in relation to recognition of particular providers of veterinary nursing training, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in such a matter.