I move that the Dáil agree with the Seanad in this amendment. The amendment refers to Section 23 which gives the Minister for Agriculture power in certain circumstances to exercise the functions of the Veterinary Council in cases where the Veterinary Council was not carrying out its functions properly. It was suggested in the Seanad that the Minister's powers to take over and control the Veterinary Council should be limited to those things which the Council was required to do, and should not apply to those things which it was given leave to do. As that seemed a suitable amendment it was accepted.
In Committee on Finance. - Veterinary Surgeons Bill, 1930.—From the Seanad.
Amendment 1—Section 23, sub-section (1). The words "authorised or" deleted in line 32.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendment 2—Section 46. The section deleted and the following new section substituted therefor:—
46.—Any person who falsely represents himself as being a registered veterinary surgeon or as being a veterinary surgeon or by the use of any colourable imitation of either of these terms represents himself as being a qualified veterinary surgeon shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine in respect of a first offence not exceeding twenty pounds and in respect of any subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.
I move that the Dáil disagree with the Seanad in this amendment. The amendment cuts at the heart of the whole Bill. It means that for the future the only offence possible in this country with regard to veterinary practice is falsely representing oneself as being a registered veterinary surgeon, or as being a veterinary surgeon, or by the use of any colourable imitation of either of these terms representing oneself as being a qualified veterinary surgeon. The amendment really does away with the idea of a register. If the amendment were to stand there is no reason why any one in the future should go on the register. In fact, the best way that a man could practise as a veterinary surgeon in this country in the future would be by getting a degree in some country other than this, and by putting up a plate with the inscription "Veterinary Surgeon, not registered in the Free State." That would take him out of the law. As the amendment means that the whole conception of veterinary education would be defeated, I am asking the Dáil to disagree with it.
Question put and agreed to.
Amendment 3—Section 47. The section deleted and the following new section substituted therefor:—
47.—(1) Any act or thing that would be an offence under this Act if committed by an individual shall be an offence if committed by a body corporate.
(2) If a body corporate commits an offence under this Act, such body corporate shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine in respect of each such offence not exceeding fifty pounds and the manager and every director of such body corporate shall also be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine in respect of each such offence not exceeding fifty pounds."
I move that the Dáil disagree with the Seanad in this amendment. The amendment is consequential on the new section which the Seanad adopted in substitution for Section 46. It effects the same thing for a corporate body as the previous section effected for an individual.
Question put and agreed to.
Ordered: That a Message be sent to the Seanad accordingly.