Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of rejected AHC1 forms sent back to the PVPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9608/09]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are disciplinary consequences for an SVI who covers up false certification by sending back to a practitioner a rejected AHCS1 form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9609/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together.

The purpose of AHCS1 forms is to permit testing practitioners to manually submit amendments to test reports that have already been submitted electronically. The acceptance of such forms is at the discretion of the Superintending Veterinary Inspector (SVI) in my Department's local District Veterinary Office (DVO). These forms can be rejected for a variety of reasons. In cases where the AHCS1 form has been rejected by the DVO, the original is kept on file and the testing practitioner is notified that the change requested has not been accepted. When such a rejected AHCS1 form relates to a testing practitioner wishing to add an animal to a test report, the current procedure is that he is notified by the DVO that a further individual test on the animal in question will be required.

My Department does not maintain a register of copies of AHCS1 forms that are returned to practitioners. I am not aware on any instances where an SVI has been involved in any irregular practice relating to AHCS1 forms or indeed test certification. The inference in the question that a Department official 'covers up false certification' is a most serious charge and, if the Deputy has any evidence of such illegal practices, he should provide the specific information to my Department and the matter will be fully investigated.