Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021
229. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is a legal requirement for canine fertility clinics to have an on-site veterinarian; if his Department maintains a list of canine fertility clinics; and the inspection mechanism in place for ensuring high animal welfare standards. [62276/21]
View answerUnder the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, the practice of veterinary medicine meaning includes diagnosing disease, injury, pain, deformity, defect or state of health of an anima, identifying and carrying out treatment, whether surgical or medical in nature, of any such matters and performing a surgical procedure on an animal.
It is an offence (with a few limited exceptions) for anyone other than a registered veterinary practitioner to undertake such activities. Furthermore, the practice of veterinary medicine must only be undertaken from a premises for which a certificate of suitability has been issued by the Veterinary Council of Ireland
The Veterinary Council of Ireland is the statutory body that regulates the practice of veterinary medicine in the State - it maintains a register of veterinary practitioners, veterinary nurses and veterinary premises for which a certificate of suitability has been issued.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not maintain a list of canine fertility clinics. Regulation (EU) 2020/686 does not require approval for canine germinal product establishments. Where the practice of veterinary medicine takes place in any such clinics, this must be carried out by registered veterinary practitioners.
