I move:
That Dáil Éireann hereby confirms the Veterinary Surgeons Order, 1972.
The order in question was made by the Government on 21st January, 1972, under section 5 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1952. Its purpose is to provide for the enlargement of the membership of the Veterinary Council, the statutory governing body of the veterinary profession, on the basis of representations made by that council.
The existing council of ten members, constituted under the Veterinary Surgeons Order, 1954, made by the Government, comprises seven elected members elected by the profession, one member appointed by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and two members appointed by the two universities concerned, that is, the National University of Ireland and the University of Dublin. When seeking to have this membership enlarged, the council proposed that the number of elected members be increased from seven to 12, which, along with the existing three appointed members, would give a total new membership of 15. The grounds for increasing the membership, as put forward by the council, are that there has, since 1954 when the present council was consituted, been a substantial expansion in professional membership; that this expansion, accompanied by an expansion in the "institutional side" of veterinary practice, has resulted not only in an increased volume of work but also in entirely new forms of problems and cases coming before the council; and that real difficulties are at times experienced in setting up, when necessary, a committee of the council to deal with particular disciplinary matters. On consideration of the circumstances, the Government were satisfied that the membership of the council needs to be enlarged as proposed and so made the present order accordingly.
The order, as I have already mentioned, was made at the wish of the Veterinary Council and to meet a real need due to changed circumstances. I can confidently recommend it to the House for confirmation.