Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of a veterinary practitioner (details supplied) who is under suspension by his Department; the reason for the suspension; when the investigation will be completed; if he will publish the outcome of the investigation; if he is satisfied with the manner and means by which the investigation is being carried out; if he will instigate an independent inquiry similar to the Department of Justice and Equality's inquiry into the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26096/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has a detailed Quality Control system in place for monitoring the performance of veterinary practitioners in carrying out their duties under the TB eradication scheme or failure to comply with relevant EU and national legislation. This system provides for effective and dissuasive measures, including suspension from testing, where veterinary practitioners fail to comply with their contractual obligations. It also includes an appeals process in respect of any sanctions imposed. My Department attaches very considerable importance to the implementation of an effective TB testing regime in view of the cost of the programme to the national exchequer, the need to eradicate this disease, the value of the beef industry to Ireland and the reliance placed on veterinary certification under the TB programme to support the industry.

The Veterinary Practitioner involved has been suspended from the list of Veterinary Practitioners approved to conduct tuberculin testing as a consequence of evidence found by the Veterinary Inspectorate in my Department of repeated failure on behalf of this Practitioner to comply with EU and national legislation and to adhere to the terms and conditions of the Conditions and Instructions for Veterinary Practitioners involved in testing and sampling under the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication and Brucellosis monitoring programmes. The breaches detected compromised the validity of a number of TB tests. The practitioner, together with his legal representatives, has attended a number of meetings and has had follow-up written correspondence with officers of my Department.

The Veterinary Practitioner involved has been informed of his right to appeal the decision to suspend him from testing. The appeals process, which has been agreed with Veterinary Ireland, the representative organisation for private veterinary practitioners, involves consideration by senior veterinary and administrative officials at my Department’s head office of any evidence he wishes to advance, in writing, in his defence. The appeal may be conducted entirely in writing or orally at the request of the appellant. The appellant may be accompanied at the hearing, including by his legal adviser or a representative from Veterinary Ireland. In addition, he has access to the courts if, following consideration of this appeal, he considers that he is being treated unjustly.

I am satisfied with the manner in which the case has been investigated. It is not normal practice for my Department to publish reports in cases such as these and it is not my intention to do so in this case.