I move :
That Dáil Éireann hereby confirms the Veterinary Surgeons (Confirmation of Agreement) Order, 1972.
The order in question was made by the Government on 19th December, 1972, under section 4 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1952. It provides for the confirmation of a new agreement with respect to veterinary surgeons concluded with the United Kingdom Government on 1st December, 1972. This new veterinary surgeons agreement, which is set out in the Schedule to the present order, is a consolidating measure. It brings upto-date and consolidates in the one agreement the provisions of the two previous agreements, that is, the agreement of 1931 and the agreement of 1954, and at the same time makes some minor amendments relating mainly to procedure.
The new agreement continues the provisions of the two previous agreements relating to (i) arrangements for the acceptance of Irish University veterinary degrees as entitling the holders to registration in the UK Register of Veterinary Surgeons and to become members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; (ii) Irish representation on the Council of the Royal College; (iii) facilities for that council to visit and report upon the courses, et cetera, leading to our veterinary degrees; and (iv) arrangements for the investigation of allegations of professional misconduct by persons registered in both the Irish Veterinary Register and the UK Register.
There were full consultations with the Veterinary Council, the statutory governing body of the veterinary profession, when the provisions of the new agreement were being drafted and the agreement was concluded with its concurrence.
I now recommend this order to the House for confirmation.
