Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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825. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his nominees to the Veterinary Council have twice in the past number of weeks voted to introduce guidelines that attending veterinary practitioners should not exceed a maximum limit of 30 days between a farm visit and the prescribing of antimicrobials; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that despite the Council having been made aware that this will leave hundreds of farms in west County Donegal without a veterinary service, his nominees have continued to support the stance of the Council which goes beyond the requirements of his Department or the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54236/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Statutory obligations in relation to the prudent prescribing of veterinary medicines are set out in Regulation 4 (1) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Animal Remedies Veterinary Practice and Veterinary Medicine) Regulations 2017.

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is the statutory body prescribed in the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 responsible for the regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine. The Council under Regulation 13 of the VPA, is empowered to establish, publish, maintain and review codes of professional conduct for veterinary practitioners. In November 2018, the VCI reviewed their Code of Professional Conduct in relation to 'Animals Under Veterinary Care' which now states that the period of time between prior direct veterinary clinical contact and the prescribing of antimicrobials should not exceed 30 days. The VCI has stated that this revision is in response to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.