Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023: Second Stage

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

The Bill, which I am pleased to bring forward, legislates for two areas. The first part seeks to modernise the area of veterinary medicines and medicated feed. As Deputies may be aware, at EU level last year, we saw the implementation of two new regulations in this area. The Bill will reinforce those regulations in Irish legislation in a once-in-a-generation change.

It shows our commitment to key objectives in the regulations, namely addressing antimicrobial resistance and protecting the supply of veterinary medicines and medicated feeds while supporting Irish farmers and businesses through this unique period of change.

The second Part of the Bill provides through the amendment of the Fertilisers, Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures Act 1955 for the creation of a national fertiliser database which will collect data on import, sale, supply and use of fertilisers and allow for analysis of this data to assist in the administration of other departmental schemes.

I take this opportunity to thank the stakeholders who have engaged with my Department during the past three years on the issues at the core of this Bill. I also thank the members of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for their valuable work both through meetings with my Department and in particular their work on the pre-legislative scrutiny report. I believe the report’s recommendations that have been incorporated into the Bill, where possible, have helped to strengthen the Bill I put before the House today. I also wish to recognise the work of my own officials and the Attorney General and his office in the preparation of the Bill and in the very significant work and engagement to bring it to this stage.

As we all know, Ireland’s agrifood sector plays a critical role not only for the economy but also for hundreds of communities. It is our largest indigenous sector and is truly the lifeblood of rural Ireland. Total exports of agrifood products last year were estimated by my Department at €18.7 billion. This phenomenal success is driven by the farm families and fishing communities of Ireland who are the bedrock of the sector, which is the envy of the world.

This Bill and the matters provided for within it will play a key role in the success of our agrifood sector going forward. In January 2022, I enacted SI 36 of 2022, the European Union veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed regulations, to give effect to EU Regulation 2019/4 on medicated feed and EU Regulation 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products. This Bill provides for powers to make regulations on areas that these recent EU regulations left to be determined by national law such as the retailing of veterinary medicines.

The Bill will repeal the Animal Remedies Act 1993. It will provide for the introduction of a national veterinary prescription system, NVPS. This system, which is being developed by my Department, will position Ireland as a leader within the EU in terms of regulatory oversight on the use of veterinary medicinal products in food-producing animals. Ultimately, this will help us to protect human and animal health and our shared environment, provide us with the best opportunity to access new trade markets and increase the viability of our food-producing sector, thus protecting and supporting jobs in our economy and in rural Ireland in particular.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance, AMR, is accepted as being critically important to achieving the best public, animal and environmental health outcomes, achieving economic, environmental and socially sustainable development and ensuring food security. AMR is now a leading cause of deaths worldwide. It is incumbent on us all to address this problem. The European regulation is now a cornerstone to support the achievement of the objectives set in the European one health action plan and in the farm to fork strategy against antimicrobial resistance. The regulation recognises the important role of the animal health sector in addressing the one health challenge of antimicrobial resistance, which has been referred to as the silent pandemic. This Bill strengthens Ireland’s position in the global fight against AMR and supports a sustainable agrifood sector. Actions taken to improve animal health and prevent disease are key to reducing the use of antibiotics and effectively tackling antimicrobial resistance. These actions align well with Ireland’s national farmed animal health strategy, with one of the key enabling principles being prevention is better than cure. This Bill provides a wide range of measures to fight AMR and promote a more prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in animals. These measures serve to protect public health, as well as animal health, by working to keep antibiotics as effective disease treatments into the future. Vets as the prescribers and, indeed, gatekeepers of antibiotics have a key role to play to promote their responsible use. The farming sectors have a responsibility to work collaboratively with their vet and other farm advisory professionals to ensure the best possible health outcomes for their animals, and to use antibiotics only when absolutely necessary. The growing understanding of the risks of AMR is among the key drivers for recent EU veterinary medicinal regulation change. AMR is a global health threat, posing significant challenges to human and animal health, and to the Irish farming sector.

The Bill also provides for the introduction of the new national veterinary prescription system, NVPS, and the collection and effective use of the data collected therein. This has the potential to provide local, national and international benefits across the sector to multiples of stakeholders. The system itself is a free-to-use digital online platform which is accessible from any desktop or mobile device which allows veterinary practitioners to record and issue veterinary prescriptions to their clients for veterinary medicinal products including medicated feed. The introduction of the NVPS will meet the Government's commitment under its digital strategy to introduce greater digital services to its citizens. It will assist with Ireland's national one health-one welfare, antimicrobial resistance and antiparasitic resistance programmes by identifying where and when particular medicines are being used and why, to what levels and in which animal species, information which was never previously available to the policy makers addressing these international disease issues. It will assist with the development and provision of farmer education policies on the effective and good use of veterinary medicinal products. With this education, it is expected that vets and farmers alike will prescribe and use less medication over time, ultimately resulting in huge financial savings to farming communities. It will also provide greater choice and control to the individual farmer on where they purchase their medications. It will help to develop the sustainability of the food producing farming community. The data will assist policy makers in identifying alternative medicinal options and practices from a farming perspective through detailing good farming and prescribing practices. Its introduction will simplify and reduce administrative burdens by digitalising cumbersome and labour-intensive manual prescription and dispensing processes. It will provide assurances to international trading partners that Ireland is at the forefront of safe food production with the highest level of regulation on the supply and use of medications in its food-producing animal population. It will aid Ireland with its EU regulatory veterinary medicinal products usage data submission commitments under the EU regulation and will also help with efficiently directing limited Department and other national resources when scheduling inspections or introducing national programmes.

I am committed to ensuring a competitive marketplace for the supply of all veterinary medicines and a continuation of the current routes of supply into the future. The importance of competition in the marketplace and protecting the choice of the farmer in where he purchases antiparasitic veterinary medicines is central to the work of my Department.

The Bill, when enacted, will also enable the collection and processing of information on the import, manufacture, sale, supply and use of fertiliser in the State. It will enable data related to fertilisers and lime to be collected from the point of import into the State, or manufacture for sale, to an end user. The climate action plan 2023, Food Vision 2030 and the EU farm to fork strategy have all set ambitious targets to reduce fertiliser use including reducing emissions associated with chemical fertiliser use by more than 50% by the end of this decade. There is also a need to improve water quality, especially in specific catchment areas.

This Bill is divided into three Parts. Part 1 of the Bill provides for standard provisions in relation to the Title and commencement of the Bill, including a commencement order for section 7, which relates to the establishment of a national database for the prescribing and dispensing of veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed, and also for the repeal of the Animal Remedies Act 1993 and certain provisions of other Acts.

Part 2 details the regulation of veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed with section 4 providing the definitions for Part 2 of the Bill.

Sections 5 and 6 provide for restrictions on those who may issue a veterinary prescription to ensure only registered veterinary practitioners do so. The recent advice received from the Attorney General’s office brings clarity to certain issues regarding prescriptions raised in the pre-legislative scrutiny report. The Bill provides for persons permitted to dispense a veterinary medicinal product subject to a prescription. It also provides for the making of regulations in relation to the prescription and dispensing of veterinary medicinal products or medicated feed, including such areas as setting the maximum validity period of a veterinary prescription other than an antimicrobial, specifying the contents of a veterinary prescription, the emergency dispensing of veterinary medicinal products by pharmacists and, as recommended in the pre-legislative scrutiny report, producing a list of antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products that can be dispensed in lieu of the product on the veterinary prescription.

Section 7 provides for the establishment, maintenance and operation of a database, called the “national database” in the Bill, on which veterinary prescriptions and dispensing of veterinary prescriptions shall be recorded. This will be known as the NVPS. This section deals with the information held on the database, who it may be accessed by and shared with and the reasons for the processing of the data.

The explanatory memorandum that was published with the Bill contained an error in detailing section 5 where it stated “that all veterinary prescriptions shall be issued electronically and dispensed and recorded on or transmitted to the national database”. This detail should have been included in the explanatory memorandum at section 7. This section is necessary to give legal effect to the NVPS, to permit the collection of the data needed to operate such a system and to comply with the general data protection regulation, GDPR. The NVPS will also be utilised to assist in complying with Ireland’s obligations under Article 57 of EU 2019/6 on the collection of data on the usage of antimicrobials. I have provided for the introduction of the NVPS on commencement order, which will allow the necessary time to further develop the NVPS as necessary to facilitate the continuation of existing retail and supply chains of antiparasitic products. The use of the NVPS by prescribers and dispensers of veterinary medicinal products is a key tool in ensuring a competitive market for the supply of such products.

Sections 9 to 26 provide for the rules on retail. The recent EU regulation states that retail of veterinary medicinal products is a matter for national law. The rules being introduced cover areas including the routes of retail of veterinary medicinal products to ensure they are retailed in an appropriate manner. The routes are detailed in the Schedule to this Bill. The labelling requirements of veterinary medicinal products that are subject to a prescription, or those that are retailed out of their original packaging, are detailed to ensure the correct information in relation to the supply and use of the product is clearly displayed. An application process is provided for the granting of a retailer’s licence to enable someone to retail veterinary medicinal products. The obligations that attach to such a licence, including training of retail responsible persons, are outlined. Rules on retailing on the Internet are provided for, along with powers to make further regulations in that area. Record-keeping provisions for those who are retailers, as well as a provision that retailing must only take place from a fixed premises, are detailed. The procedures around the special import licences that vets and wholesalers may avail of in certain circumstances are also covered in this section.

Sections 27 to 30 provide for the making of regulations on the possession, administration, advertising and storage of veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed.

Sections 31 to 34 provide for the making of regulations on the licensing of the importation of certain veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed in circumstances permitted under EU law, other matters that EU regulations left to national law and general provisions on licences and regulations made under the Bill.

Sections 35 to 56 are enforcement matters. The provisions of these sections are adapted from the Animal Remedies Act 1993.

Turning to Part 3 of the Bill, which contains eight sections, the proposed legislation will amend the Fertilisers, Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures Act 1955 to provide for a register of fertiliser economic operators, a register of professional fertiliser end users and the establishment of a national fertiliser database and associated provisions.

Sections 57 and 58 provide definitions for Part 3 of the Bill, while section 59 provides a means for substances not considered fertilisers or feeding stuffs to be excluded from the legislation.

Section 60 provides for the application of a licence and the right to appeal if a licence is not granted.

Section 61 provides for the establishment of a fertiliser economic operator's register and a fertiliser end user register. It also provides for a national fertiliser database, which will encompass the registration of fertiliser economic operators and end users. Information on the manufacturing, import, placing on the market, making available on the market or sale, whether wholesale or retail, of fertiliser products will be included in the database.

Section 62 provides for the appointing in writing of such persons or class of persons as the Minister considers appropriate to be authorised officers for the exercise of the functions conferred on an authorised officer under this Part. This section also provides the powers for an authorised officer and details the specific circumstances in which an authorised officer can use their powers. It also provides the procedures for properly processing the information collected.

Section 63 provides for the prosecution of offences under this Part of the Bill and Section 64 provides for penalties for offences under the Bill.

The national fertiliser database will provide for accurate tracking of fertiliser sales along the supply chain. The recording of fertiliser sales data at farm level will facilitate traceability and monitoring of quantities and types of fertiliser used over time. Additionally, farmers can use this data to demonstrate compliance with any future voluntary industry sustainability or quality assurance initiatives. The data captured in the database will provide a solid basis for future policy interventions to support our environment and climate ambitions. It will assist farmers in improving nutrient use efficiency on their farms, thereby contributing to the key targets on fertiliser use under the climate action plan, and will facilitate improved compliance with nitrogen and phosphorous limits. Data from the database will also facilitate regulatory controls by my Department under Ireland’s nitrates action programme, nitrates derogation and the eco-scheme liming and reduced fertiliser options under Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, strategic plan.

In time, checks that previously involved examining paper records supplied by farmers will be completed using information from the database. This will significantly reduce the administrative burden that would otherwise be placed on farmers. Establishing the database will also meet a commitment that Ireland made during negotiations with the European Commission to secure the current extension to Ireland’s nitrates derogation. At this stage all EU member states availing of a nitrates derogation have set up, or are in the process of setting up, a national fertiliser database.

Under the Bill, anyone wishing to purchase fertiliser for professional use will have to register as a professional fertiliser end user, the vast majority of which will be farmers. Farmers or agents acting on their behalf will be able to register using the Department’s online portal, www.agfood.ie.

In response to recommendations made during pre-legislative scrutiny, I reiterate that this will be a simple process and will only be required once. Non-farmer professional fertiliser end users will have to apply to my Department for registration. Once registered, they will be assigned a unique identification number. Professional fertiliser end users will have to submit stocks of fertiliser on their farms or premises on dates to be agreed as part of the consultation process.

The pre-legislative scrutiny process raised the issue of purchase of fertiliser by sports clubs and organisations. The purchase and use of fertiliser in quantities sufficient for use on football fields and their environs is considered as a commercial use and sports clubs will be required to register as professional fertiliser end users. Beyond registration, it is not anticipated that there will be any burden placed on clubs, particularly if they do not hold stocks on site. The sale of fertiliser to sports clubs and organisations will be recorded by fertiliser merchants.

Non-professional users of fertiliser, such as gardeners producing for their own use, will not be impacted by this legislative proposal. Businesses or individuals selling fertiliser must also register with my Department as fertiliser economic operators and will be required to submit information to the national fertiliser database as set out in the Bill.

The Department has been engaging with fertiliser stakeholders over many months to ensure this process is as straightforward as possible. In this regard, retailers of fertilisers will have two options to supply their sales data. This information can be submitted through an application programme interface, API, which will allow sales data to be sent directly to my Department’s IT systems.

Alternatively, the information can be submitted manually through the Department’s online portal, agfood.ie.

The robust data sharing provisions in the legislation will allow the potential specific sharing of data with other bodies to achieve environmental and sustainability targets and will be fully in line with general data protection regulation, GDPR, and other data.

In conclusion, I look forward to support for this important legislation that will provide many far-reaching benefits for farmers, public and animal health and welfare and the environment. I also look forward to the debate on Second Stage and other Stages of the Bill as it progresses through the Dáil.

I thank all who have contributed so far and officials in my Department for their work in bringing this legislation together. It is heavy and complex legislation, but it is important we progress it given its significance. Both elements of the legislation involve the daily lives of farm families and, therefore, it is important that we continue to offer as much clarity as possible.

Deputy Matt Carthy

EU Regulation No. 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products had been due to come into effect in January 2022. I first raised concerns about the transposition of that regulation with a predecessor of the Minister in July 2020 after some concerns had been raised with me and other Deputies by stakeholders.

At that time, a response to a parliamentary question from the then Minister stated that:

The specific rules will be determined by National law and it is the intention of my Department to provide for Responsible Persons who operate within the Licensed Merchant sector to continue to have a role in the dispensing of veterinary medicinal products as provided for in the current legislation.

Of course, as time passed, the responses of successive Ministers changed and became less committal, which raised fears in those in the co-operative and licensed merchant sector, in particular, as well as those pharmacists who provide valuable and necessary access to veterinary medicinal products in many rural communities.

The purpose of this regulation is largely to combat antimicrobial resistance and ensure the correct and proper controls and dispensing of veterinary medicinal products more generally. I want to put on the record that we absolutely support the intention of limiting antimicrobial resistance, which is one of the greatest threats to human health internationally. Ireland, of course, must play its part in addressing it.

The fact is, though, that the European Union recognised that the existing prescribing and dispensing regime on this island was already sufficiently robust in that a derogation was placed into the regulation specifically to allow for the continuation of those existing prescribing regimes in Ireland, both North and South, and Britain.

Prior to the withdrawal agreement, Britain availed of that derogation. I am told that the British Government reached out to its Irish counterparts to facilitate a joint approach towards the derogation and was told that Ireland was not interested in its approach.

I later learned from officials within the European Commission that they were confused as to why Ireland had not availed of the derogation. This was effectively indicated by responses my colleague, Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus, received when he put questions to the Commission.

It has seemed for quite some time that the Department has stood against the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to this Bill, as well as various approaches and legal opinions that have been suggested and brought forward by stakeholders.

Now, it seems on the face of it that the Minister and Department have accepted to some degree that the role of responsible persons does need to be protected. This is clearly in line with the recommendations of the Oireachtas committee because responsible persons are well-educated and well-qualified in the field in which they ply their trade. They have obtained level 6 qualifications, which will essentially be deemed worthless if we proceed as was initially intended.

We have seen this in the absolute collapse in sales of anti-inflammatory products at some co-operatives after similar regulations impacted those products, with sales dropping by over 80% in some cases. As I understand it, it appears there is an acceptance now of what would be described as common sense and that there has been a conversion, but it is not reflected in this legislation.

We are close to resolving this issue in a way everyone can get on board with. Nobody is talking about liberalising the prescription or dispensation of antibiotics. In terms of antiparasitics and vaccines, a mechanism is required whereby the client patient practice relationship can be amended regarding farmed ruminants and equine in cases only where those animals are covered by herd health plans operated by licensed merchants, co-operatives or pharmacies.

I have been advised that the preferred route is to achieve this through a change to the Veterinary Council of Ireland’s code of ethical prescribing and if that can be achieved, then job done. If it does not appear to be feasible, however, then it is still my view that it is up to us collectively as legislators to resolve this situation in primary law.

Given that there has been a weak approach to this regulation to date, I do not believe it is either fair or practical for us to leave this solely in the hands of the Minister and his officials simply to pass this legislation with a promise or a hint that responsible persons will be taken care of down the line. We have seen where that has gotten us in the past.

My request and appeal to the Minister is that he clearly engages with the Veterinary Council of Ireland to secure the necessary amendments at that level in advance of Committee Stage. Otherwise, I believe we will need to bring forward amendments to the legislation on Committee Stage so that nobody is left beyond any doubt that the matter has been resolved.

I have a continued concern with regard to pharmacists, whose code of conduct prohibits them from having a beneficial relationship with what is prescribed. It would be appreciated if the Minister could speak to this and inform us of how he plans to approach that matter ahead of Committee Stage.

With regard to this aspect of the Bill, there have been concerns among the farming community, in particular, that this legislation could damage competition, reduce farmers' ability to shop around for veterinary medicinal products and drive up costs. We now have this national veterinary prescription system, NVPS, proposal. It does appear, however, that the system itself appears to have been beset with delays. Internal Department communications I received under a freedom of information request saw officials express concern as to whether the NVPS will actually deliver significant access to generic products.

With this in mind, it would be useful ahead of Committee Stage if the Department could provide the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine with a briefing paper as to how the engagements with the Health Products Regulatory Authority on this matter are being dealt with, as well as the scope of the generics list that will be available.

In terms of the national fertiliser database, of course, this can play an important role in monitoring fertiliser use across the State and assist to deliver improved water quality and reduce greenhouse gases and ammonia emissions, which is something on which we collectively agree and which are aspirations we share.

There is one obvious problem with the so-called national fertiliser database in that it is not actually national. In the absence of an all-Ireland approach, there are clear concerns as to how measures will be effective, particularly in Border communities, with which the Minister will be well aware in his own constituency, where it is very possible that a farmer's nearest merchant is actually just across the road but happens to be in a different county and different jurisdiction.

Sinn Féin wants to work with the Minister on Committee Stage to ensure that stakeholder concerns regarding the level of data gathered and that the overhead this might place on farmers has been fully addressed, alongside the concerns raised with regard to that limitation in terms of the scope of cross-Border trade. It is not true to say that the situation will be the same for farmers operating on a cross-Border basis who are purchasing fertiliser in County Tyrone if they live in County Monaghan or even vice versa. The fact is that they will have to register as both fertiliser end users and fertiliser economic operators simply for doing the same thing as somebody in a different part of the country, namely, going to the local merchant to purchase fertiliser. That creates concerns.

With regard to the NVPS and the national fertiliser database, concerns have been expressed by farmers as to how their data may be used for purposes outside of what we understand the primary purposes of the legislation to be. I am sure the Minister will welcome farmers being security conscious in the context of their data. With a view to addressing these concerns, has a data protection impact assessment has been carried out? If not, will the Minister ensure that it is carried out for the NVPS and the national fertiliser database? I hope he is sincere in saying that he is willing to engage with stakeholders and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine as we move to Committee Stage. The stated intentions of the Bill are laudable but we cannot allow a situation where it puts additional financial pressures on farmers or puts local key business in rural communities out of existence.

Deputy Martin Browne

I thank the Minister for the opportunity to speak on the Bill.

A derogation that would have allowed for responsible persons to continue to dispense some veterinary medicinal products, VMPs, without a veterinary prescription was not availed of by the Government. As the Minister knows full well, it led to a lengthy debate on the future of the role of the responsible persons under the new regulation, and the impact this could have on licensed merchants, co-ops and rural economies in general.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine heard that if this sector of the rural economy was, effectively, to be disempowered, animal welfare could also suffer through a lack of responsible persons and the services they provide through co-ops and licensed merchants.

Another aspect of the same issue concerns the knowledge value of responsible persons and the depth of knowledge they have about the local area, and of health trends on certain farms or within certain flocks and herds. If the role of such people was made redundant, an important skill set would be lost to farms. An important source of information would be gone and rural Ireland would have another challenge to overcome.

The Minister will be aware the committee was told how when similar regulations were introduced relating to anti-inflammatory products, a subsequent 90% decrease of sales of these products was witnessed in co-ops. This is a not a trend we want replicated. All of this has led to numerous discussions about the value of responsible persons, co-ops and licensed merchants, each of whom has an in-depth knowledge of the local area. This knowledge cannot be easily replicated and covers qualifications that should not be rendered useless. While there are indications that the evidence given to the committee, and discussed elsewhere, has impressed upon the Minister that the role and contribution of these experts should be maintained, the Bill we are discussing still does not expressly say how this will be delivered or what role will be there for the responsible persons.

Nobody is arguing against the need to tackle antimicrobial or antiparasitic resistance. Rural Ireland and the quality of the food we consume in the State are dependent on the protection of these medicines. We need to take an approach that works for rural Ireland’s economy that works for animal health and that works to ensure the viability of the medication we are discussing. When it comes to herd health plans, we cannot be allowed to dismiss the role played by licensed merchants, co-ops, pharmacies and so on. It is good that the Minister has acknowledged this but a plan needs to be outlined, which I will get to shortly.

The other matter of concern within the agriculture community is in the area of competition and the ability of farmers to shop around after getting the veterinary prescription as demanded under the planned system. Some farmers are likely to feel obliged to purchase these medicines from the vet, given that under the legislation, they must get their prescription from vets. This is where the NVPS came into the picture. It still does not take away from the fact that some farmers would feel unable to look their vet in the eye if they were to get the prescription from them but were then to shop for the product elsewhere. It is human nature.

We now understand that the Minister would like to address the concerns I have referred to through a measure outside the legislative arena. This would involve the VCI and the development of a new annexe to accompany its code of practice. In essence, it would enable vets to prescribe without a client-patient-practice relationship presence for farmed ruminant animals, including equines, that are under herd health plans operated by local merchants, co-ops and pharmacies. Of course, this would not involve antibiotics but it would allow professionals within the co-ops and pharmacies who work with individual farmers to prescribe or dispense antiparasitic and vaccine VMPs. If there is a failure or some inability to get this done, then it could be introduced to the legislation, and Sinn Féin will seek to get this added to the legislation on Committee Stage. Allowing for the management and dispensing of antiparasitic products and vaccines under herd health plans managed by professionals in their area seems like common sense. It would benefit farmers and rural communities, and would be of benefit when it comes to animal health.

Another concern I have with the Bill, which is related to the issue I have just addressed, is the lack of an all-island approach to the prescribing and dispensing of VMPs. The derogation I mentioned earlier was not adopted by the Government, but was adopted by Westminster and, therefore, two different regimes will emerge on the same island. The risk to animal health is real in such a circumstance, with knowledge gaps in what has and has not been administered to animals. This would have a knock-on effect to our food standards. This is another reason to work on refining the Bill, as I have suggested.

I will turn to the national fertiliser database. Similar to the importance of ensuring the viability of antiparasitic products, vaccines and antibiotics, monitoring the use of fertiliser is a key factor in meeting our environmental goals. However, the lack of an all-island approach again throws the purpose of the database into question. For example, in some areas a supplier from across the Border may be the nearest for a farmer in the Republic. Concerns were also expressed at the use of data and the volume gathered.

I look forward to having a discussion on all of these matters when the Bill is examined further on Committee Stage. Equally, I hope the Minister will work with the committee on finding the best way forward for rural communities, farm families and the animals that are under their care.

Deputy Alan Kelly

I am glad the Bill has come before the Dáil following the need to bring it forward and given the need to transpose the EU directive. There has been some controversy in the lead-up to this and I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute on it.

Events over the past year or so have really driven home the importance of a thriving and sustainable indigenous agrifood sector. With that in mind, this is an important and laudable Bill. It will have significant effects on the modernisation of our agriculture sector, on meeting our climate ambitions, and crucially, on our farmers and how they will operate. While it is a laudable, necessary and well intentioned Bill with some good measures, there are some issues of concern.

I welcome the introduction of measures to enhance our ability to capture information on fertiliser and its use within the State, as well as the introduction of the national fertiliser database. We often hear about the need for a just transition. I believe this is something all of us in the House strongly campaign for and support; certainly the Labour Party does. There is an argument to be made that in no other industry or profession is the concept of a just transition more important than among our farmers and agricultural workers. We know the significance of our agriculture sector in helping us to mitigate the impact of climate change and helping us to achieve our climate goals. Relative to many other industries, farmers are being asked a lot in transforming the way in which they work, and often with fewer resources at their disposal. That they are supported and incentivised to do so is vital. If the national fertiliser database can help us to keep track of and reward them for their efforts through the eco scheme, it will certainly be a good thing. It will, however, take some time to bed in.

I reiterate some of the concerns we heard from stakeholders regarding the administrative burden that will be placed on fertiliser users. We cannot expect everybody to be technologically literate on what will happen in this area in a relatively short time. The database must be designed in such a way to be easily accessible and user-friendly. We do not want a situation of non-compliance due to a complicated administrative process, or people relying on others to carry out data entry or processing for them. This would cause a range of other issues. The process needs to be simple and not overly burdensome. We want to encourage our farmers to avail of the eco scheme and take the necessary actions for the betterment of our agriculture sector. Those who might not be quite so computer literate on how to do this must be supported and the process for doing this must be made as easy as possible.

Some direct material risks contained in the Bill have not been fully dealt with. The principal risk, which happens in quite a number of areas, is that the measures proposed are not from an all-island perspective.

For all its worth, the national fertiliser database and its inherent purpose are undermined by the fact that there are no mechanisms in the Bill to prevent someone crossing the Border into the North and purchasing fertiliser for use in Ireland that could then go unrecorded. I believe that the vast majority of farmers will comply with what is set out in this Bill, but it would be naive not to assume that a small number would avail of loopholes or simply cross the Border to ensure they will have access to fertiliser.

The same applies to the purchase of veterinary medicines. The absence of an all-island approach to the sale and purchase of veterinary medicines is likely to lead to the emergence of a sort of black market, where people can cross the Border and buy a greater range of range of medicines at a lower cost as a result of the measures we are happily introducing, due to the fact that the same does not apply in the other jurisdiction.

Cost is at the heart of some of the issues in the Bill. Again, we recognise that this is a laudable and well-intentioned Bill. There is no doubt antimicrobial resistance is a serious issue that we must tackle. However, there is no escaping the fact that limiting the ability to prescribe medicines solely to veterinarians will reduce competition and the choice of medicines available and, ultimately, no matter what we say, lead to higher costs for farmers. What will happen in that case is that again, unfortunately, people will cross the Border. It is irresponsible that there is no mechanism to prevent this from happening. The implications of having medicines from a different regulatory regime used on the livestock that produces our food on which we thrive and export is obvious. It poses a serious threat to our food quality standards. Furthermore, by not allowing designated persons in co-op branches and licensed merchants to prescribe medicines, the Bill not only negatively impacts farmers, but the co-ops and merchants themselves. If a veterinarian writes a prescription, he or she will have the first opportunity to dispense the medicine and, therefore, not only will this Bill increase the cost of medicines for farmers, but it will directly impact the business of local co-ops and licensed merchants.

We have heard from groups such as the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS, and other relevant stakeholders about problems in this Bill. We have also heard their solutions. It is disappointing that some element of these solutions was not introduced in the Bill. While the rationale behind this Bill is laudable, it is obvious that we must have sight of how fertiliser is being used in this country to help us manage and reach our climate ambitions. We must also combat antimicrobial resistance to ensure the sustainability of our agrifood sector. Unfortunately, however, as I have outlined, in some parts of this Bill we are creating issues that will not be resolved. That is something we must tease out on Committee Stage.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh)

I will make it a hat-trick of Tipperary Deputies.

Deputy Alan Kelly

What is rare is wonderful.

Deputy Jackie Cahill

I acknowledge the work of the Minister and his staff in the Department in progressing this Bill. It has come in for detailed discussion at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which I am privileged to chair.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major issue that must be addressed. I have full confidence in the Minister that when we eventually pass the legislation in this House, it will achieve its objectives. Human health is paramount and we must do whatever we can to improve it. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem, not just for animal health but for human health. This is one of the main purposes behind this Bill. It is one of the main reasons that I fully support the Minister in his endeavours to get this legislation through the Dáil. The Bill will be on Committee Stage shortly when we will work on it and make sure that it is fit for purpose.

The point Deputy Kelly made about cross-Border trade will be an issue. It will also be an issue with fertiliser. I am strongly of the view that a 32-county approach is far better for all aspects of food production, no more so than in the sale of veterinary medicines and fertiliser. I hope it is something that we can progress. We are where we are, and we must make sure that we are doing the job correctly here. Farmers will buy into this legislation as they see it is the right route to go.

The Minister is fully committed to making sure that co-ops, private merchants, feed mills and pharmacies have the ability to sell these products going forward. A vet will prescribe. I know the Minister is working hard to ensure that a protocol will be in place to allow the availability of products in these outlets. That is essential to ensure competition and that there is no monopoly in existence. The NVPS will be adopted under the legislation. That must be done. I, for one, would not argue that a vet must prescribe all these products, but we can still do that and allow a variety of outlets.

I suggest to the Minister that a farmer-operated app is essential to go along with this legislation so that a farmer will be able to use the app to contact a veterinarian, whether one operating at a distance or his own vet, someone with knowledge of his herd, and get back a prescription and then he would have a variety of outlets to go to purchase whatever product he wants.

We have heard discussion in recent weeks about vaccines and where they will fit in with this legislation. It is essential that the availability of vaccines is not restricted under it and that they are more widely used than heretofore, given that prevention is better than cure. We talked about the purpose of the Bill being to reduce antimicrobial resistance. The next generation is farming with me. The reality is that in the past we always dosed according to the calendar. We dosed at turnout, and a month or six weeks after putting cattle into the shed, but the next generation takes swabs from faeces or uses milk samples to determine the level of disease present and what level of dosing is necessary. One practical example of that is fluke. Regimentally, we always dosed for fluke a month or six weeks after housing. My son operates on the basis of the various tests, whether post mortems of cattle that have gone to the factory, or from the milk bulk sample test. If he can see there is no fluke present in the herd, there is no need to dose. That is a good management tool in not building up resistance in the herd, but it is also a cost-saving measure for the farmer. Knowledge is king in how we deal with this issue going forward. The more knowledge at the disposal of farmers and veterinarians in prescribing for the herd, the greater our ability to reduce the usage of these products and to achieve the goals we have set out. The Minister fully understands the complexity of the industry, and ensuring that these products are available under the supervision of a veterinary prescription. I look forward to Committee Stage when we can ensure the legislation is fit for purpose as quickly as possible.

The national fertiliser database is essential for us to maintain our derogation, which is hugely important to intensive beef farmers and the dairy industry. The Minister is working hard to ensure this country maintains its derogation. We must put the database in place. We have introduced banding from 1 January, which is a requirement for us to hold on to our derogation. We are unique in our ability to grow grass in this country. That is the way we can produce sustainable food. It would be a sorry day if our stocking rate was restricted as it would undermine the sustainability of our food production.

The Minister was exceptionally keen to introduce this database from 1 January but we are now into the middle of February. He is impatient to introduce it as quickly as possible. It is essential for him to win our argument on maintaining our derogation. It is to be hoped that following today's debate the Bill can go to Committee Stage as quickly as possible. I assure him we will get it through that Stage as quickly as is feasible. These two separate legislative Parts are linked in the Bill and it is important to get them on the Statute Book. As I said, human health is the topmost concern. Our green image and ability to produce green food can only be enhanced by this legislation. The fertiliser database is an essential part of our fight against climate change and maintaining our derogation status.

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this important Bill. I thank all the County Mayo farmers, suppliers and those concerned with agriculture who contacted me with their valuable input into the Bill. It is long overdue legislation that has been a source of great anxiety due to the serious risks it could pose to the sector if we do not get it right. It should have been transposed by January 2022 but the delay has largely been of the Government's own making as it looked at the end of the system of allowing people designated as responsible persons, RPs, to dispense.

I am relieved the indications are that the Minister has finally accepted the opinion of all stakeholders outside the Department that the current regime operated by RPs should be maintained. I say "indications" because the fact of the matter is this legislation does not make that clear at this point. The Bill does not deliver a clear role for RPs. As my colleagues stated, the Minister has two options. Either he ensures that the VCI amends its code of practice prior to the passing of this Bill or he must accept amendments to the Bill on Committee Stage to provide RPs with a clear role within the legislation. If this is not done correctly, the Bill could have significant impacts on access to VMPs and animal health and welfare, especially in areas on the periphery with more limited access to veterinary services.

As the Minister will be aware, there is a chronic shortage of vets, especially those working with large animals in the agriculture sector in rural areas. We have allowed a situation to emerge whereby we are only training between a third and a quarter of vets that are needed. While they are being delivered in higher education, it is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that has lead responsibility in this area. It is beyond understanding that successive Ministers for agriculture would allow this situation to emerge. An evaluation of farmed animal veterinary service in Ireland in 2020 identified counties Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Mayo, the county in which I live, as having the highest number of herds more than 20 km from their nearest private veterinary practice.

The issue before us in the legislation relates to RPs. If their role in the sector is not protected, that would constitute a real threat to thousands of valuable jobs throughout rural Ireland, which simply cannot afford to lose them. The British Government availed of the derogation on the dilution of the role of RPs prior to Brexit. We cannot have a situation where we have two separate regimes for the prescribing and dispensation of VMPs on the island. Some 50% of milk and meat from the North is processed in the South and rightly labelled as Irish but that also means we need to ensure compliance with the same standards.

All of that said, it is imperative that measures are employed to tackle antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance. This is vital for humans as well as animal health. However, these measures need to be done in a way that makes sense to the sector, rural economies and to the island as a whole.

Deputy Holly Cairns

The legislation is necessary to update our laws on veterinary practices and to meet our obligations under several EU directives, including the nitrates directive. It provides for the introduction of regulations and monitoring mechanisms regarding veterinary prescriptions and their dispensing in the importation, sale and use of fertiliser, as well as the creation of a national fertiliser database. It is a long time coming. I recall being in a knowledge transfer group, long before I went into politics, where vets explained the overuse of antibiotics and routine dosing.

Stakeholders recognise the need for regulation in these areas but there are also concerns that the Bill has too many ambiguities and will result in even more bureaucracy for ordinary farmers. Although this legislation is technical in nature, it still touches on many aspects of farming and rural life. It is about our use of fertiliser, our vulnerability to international markets and the glaring need to accelerate the use of viable and sustainable alternatives. This legislation is also about veterinary practice in Ireland, the challenges faced by vets and how we respond to antimicrobial resistance. The agrifood sector is a significant part of the economy and livestock farming is the largest component at approximately 85%. The Bill will, therefore, have a significant impact on the sector and the everyday practices of farmers. There is scope to improve it and make it more effective. It needs to be targeted at supporting family farms and ensuring its obligations can be met easily by people who are already overstretched. I encourage the Minister to listen to the points being raised and continue his engagement with stakeholders to strengthen his approach. The pre-legislative scrutiny process clearly established that farmer representative bodies are more than willing to work with him and have suggested practical solutions to some of the issues identified.

The VMP aspects of the Bill highlight the many challenges faced by farmers and vets in their attempts to ensure the health of livestock and to act responsibly in the administration of animal-based medication. European VMP regulations are aimed at enhancing safety and availability of VMPs and strengthening the EU response to fight antimicrobial resistance. An effective and co-ordinated approach to combating antimicrobial resistance is incredibly important. It is a major threat to human and animal health. Unfortunately, it is a leading cause of death globally and particularly impacts people in less advantaged countries. The inappropriate use and overuse of antibiotics greatly increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness and mortality. This resistance can also be transferred between diseases causing microorganisms that infect humans and animals and can live on in the environment.

The Minister will also be aware of potential problems raised by the Irish Pharmacy Union, which argues that the Bill may reduce compliance around antimicrobial resistance. Recommendation No. 6 of the pre-legislative scrutiny report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine proposed the separation of prescribing and dispensing of veterinary medicines. It pointed out that this approach was adopted by Scandinavian countries and has achieved significantly lower levels of resistance to medicines. In response, however, the Department said it cannot pursue this approach as it would be seen as providing state aid to one sector as a separation of prescribing and dispensing is found in other EU countries. This rationale could be disputed. The committee called for this proposal to be examined extensively. Will the Minister confirm whether a fresh extensive examination occurred in response to that call? If so, what form did it take? Can he make the results available?

The VMP regulations need more work. They are part of our response to a significant issue. It is up to the Minister to use the scope available to implement the regulations in a manner that helps farmers and vets. There is a ban on the use of antimicrobials as a prophylactic or preventative measure as regards restrictions on metaphylactic use, which is the administration of a medical product to a whole group of animals when only some of that group have been diagnosed with a clinical disease. This latter practice is common in dairy settings for mastitis control. The restriction on metaphylactic use of antimicrobials makes farm hygiene approaches to managing infection rates even more significant. We all know there are farms that are not meeting these standards and a resultant overreliance on antimicrobials.

With these new regulations, the Minister has a responsibility and an opportunity to help as many farms as possible become compliant with best practice in this area. A related area highlighted during pre-legislative scrutiny was the national capacity to monitor these issues. Macra na Feirme pointed out the need for proper funding of forage laboratory analysis. There will be increased demand for a range of tests and the State will need to be ready for this. New regulations that put more pressures on family farms must be counterbalanced by the Department having appropriate facilities.

These regulations also cover the supply of antiparasitic VMPs, in particular, with products changing from merchant products to prescription-only medicines. The agriculture committee's report, reflecting the inputs of stakeholders, expressed considerable concern regarding these changes. These range from reduced choice and increased cost to farmers to the impacts of restricting or ceasing the role of the responsible person in the supply of medicines.

The Minister will be aware that this was a substantial item of discussion of the committee and that the farming organisations have genuine and practical points which need to be addressed. I hope the Minister will consider those points on the later Stages of the Bill.

The benefit of this legislation is that it has allowed for a discussion of the role vets have in our agrifood system and the pressures they face. In its submission to the committee, Veterinary Ireland, the representative body for nearly 1,000 private veterinary practitioners, points out the significant burdens vets face in providing 24-hour care for animals. This includes the cost of operating this model, the disruption to work-life balance and the challenges in recruiting and retaining veterinary staff. The Minister needs to be conscious of these matters, not only in the context of this Bill but also in ensuring we have sufficient vets in all areas across the country to support family farming. I think everybody who is involved in farming really appreciates that we have an incredible veterinary service. In that way it needs to be protected.

The regulation on fertiliser is another crucial development but it needs to be designed and implemented with farmers and agricultural organisations to ensure its effectiveness. In the pre-legislative scrutiny process, we heard worries expressed about additional bureaucracy.

The national fertiliser database is intended to be a tool to help the nitrates action programme. We know that agriculture is the single biggest source of water pollution in Ireland and we all want to address that. The proposed database is intended to provide a better understanding of current fertiliser use. It would also facilitate the national agriculture inspection programme on chemical fertiliser control. Crucially, measures to improve best practice and to begin to turn the tide on our shocking levels of water pollution and soil degradation are necessary, but we need to do this in a way that encourages compliance. Numerous practical issues and uncertainties were raised by stakeholders in pre-legislative scrutiny, and it is important to acknowledge that the Minister has made changes to the Bill to reflect some of them, but there are some outstanding matters.

One of the primary concerns was that the database could increase the administrative burden on fertiliser users. The committee called for an accessible and user-friendly design. The Department has clarified that the system will use the existing portal, agfood.ie, and that farmers can use their herd numbers. The committee recommended that there be continuous engagement with the Department as the database is rolled out. That is the very least we can expect to help make the process as easy and efficient as possible.

Another matter was the situation whereby sports clubs may use fertiliser on their grounds. The Department has clarified that those clubs will be required to register as professional fertiliser users. This question that arises is whether they know that. Many farmers will be aware of these impending changes, but sports clubs may not. What steps is the Minister taking to inform and educate all relevant farmers, sports clubs and other fertiliser users? There is an obligation on the Government to be proactive in helping all stakeholders to understand the changes and to support them in adhering to the new regulations.

The regulation of fertilisers is an opportunity for us to think about our reliance on industrial imported chemical fertilisers. This time last year, farmers were facing inconsistent price increases, with international restrictions on nitrates, and that was before the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There is an urgent need to end our dependence on chemical fertiliser. It represents the type of intensive farming that is forcing farmers to do more and more for less and less. Sustainable agriculture needs to mean practices that can be maintained using natural approaches that use the strengths of our soil and climate rather than working against them and leaving farmers reliant on these imported elements, the price of which we cannot control. If we do not truly try to address this now, which I do not believe we are doing, we are blatantly leaving it to the next generation to do it. I mean not just the next generation of politicians but the next generation of farmers too. The longer we leave it, the harder it will get. I do not think we have grasped how important this issue is, and the relative emptiness of the Chamber compared with when other issues are discussed is evidence of that.

We do not have to look very far for more evidence. There is the absence of a nutrient management plan, which Macra na Feirme has been calling for, and there is the very existence of the derogation for nitrates and the continuous glossing over, the ignoring, of that in this Chamber because nobody wants to really address it. It is worth noting that a lot more needs to be done on this, and the Government is not working towards that. As I said, the longer this is left, the harder it will be for farmers. This is not doing them any favours.

While the introduction of new regulations necessarily involves disruption and a new way of doing things, I can only hope the Government will work with all the stakeholders to make this a smooth process. These regulations are in response to real issues with antimicrobial resistance and water pollution. It is fair to say that we are all invested in addressing these matters; the challenge is how we do it. Some outstanding shortcomings can be resolved. If the Bill moves through the next Stages, I encourage the Minister to return to the committee's report and engage further with stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of this legislation.

Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

The benefit of this Bill is that we will be able to bring in legislation in areas left to national discretion in a manner that is most appropriate to Irish agriculture, with a view to protecting animal health and ensuring that the market for veterinary medicinal products and medicated feeds is an effective, equitable and functioning one. The introduction of the proposed prescribing database will allow for the direct uploading of all generated veterinary prescriptions to a centralised cloud in order that, once they are generated, the animal keeper will be sent a copy of the prescription or token via email or SMS. This is similar in some respects to a human prescription being emailed to a pharmacy, a practice we are all used to. The veterinary prescription can then be dispensed by either the prescribing vet or another dispensing party, such as a licensed merchant or operator, pharmacist or medicated feed mill, on presentation of the electronic prescription, token, bar code, PIN, etc.

The legislation will also allow the Minister to capture the processed fertiliser data. Collecting such information will improve traceability in respect of fertiliser use. It will facilitate and improve compliance. It will also allow Ireland to meet our commitment to the European Commission arising out of the recent review of the nitrates action programme and the extension of Ireland's nitrates derogation.

The making of regulations under the Bill will provide the animal keeper or farmer and the community with a much greater choice as to where they may obtain their veterinary medicine and will potentially reduce the administrative burden as a key objective of the EU regulation for those prescribing, dispensing and purchasing veterinary medicinal products, VMPs, as well as positively impacting animal and human health.

The introduction of a national database and a system to record prescriptions of VMPs can potentially simplify record keeping. It will also provide greater regulatory oversight of those involved in the general prescription, dispensing and use of VMPs. The greater oversight will ultimately protect those meeting their regulatory function. It will also allow Ireland to meet its reporting requirements under the EU regulation. The Bill will facilitate the recording of fertiliser sales data and will not impact the ability to purchase fertiliser. It will also reduce the administrative burden for farmers participating in the proposed national targets. In addition, the proposed database will provide reliable data to farmers, which they can then use to qualify for possible voluntary industry sustainability initiatives that will reward their actions.

The Bill is more than welcome. We need to move on it as quick as we can.

Deputy Patricia Ryan

This Bill will repeal the Animal Remedies Act 1993 to modernise the legislation that governs veterinary medicine. It will also amend the Fertilisers, Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures Act. It is long overdue and yet another example of Government failure to transpose regulations on time. Ireland has been in breach of its legal obligations for over a year, with the Government dragging its feet. The EU regulation is intended to combat antimicrobial resistance and will require a veterinary prescription for all antibiotics and antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products as well as vaccines. In developing this regulation, the EU recognised that the existing regime for dispensing veterinary medicinal products differed between Ireland and Britain and much of mainland Europe. A derogation was introduced which allowed for responsible persons to continue in their existing role, as is common practice here.

While the British Government availed of that derogation, the Irish Government did not. As a result, there are concerns that the qualifications of responsible persons will be rendered meaningless and that there will be a knock-on effect for rural jobs, as well as increased costs for farmers, not to mention the negative impact on animal welfare. In response to these concerns, the Government must establish a national veterinary prescription system which would require all vets to provide an e-prescription that would also facilitate the use of generic medicines.

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine heard that similar regulations on anti-inflammatory products led to a 90% reduction in sales in co-operatives. We must protect our rural economy. It is clear that measures are available to address antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance. This is vital for human and animal health. However, there must be a common-sense approach which allows for the management and dispensing of antiparasitic medicines and vaccines under herd health plans managed by professionals in their area.

The national fertiliser database can play an important role in monitoring fertiliser use across the State, assisting the delivery of improved water quality and reducing greenhouse gases and ammonia emissions. There are concerns about the lack of an all-Ireland approach on this issue, particularly in Border areas where a farmer's nearest supplier may be across the Border. Our farmers are facing a daunting bill of over €1 billion for fertilisers this year due to the soaring cost of fertilisers and the lack of Government support. The Government must act to ensure our farmers are supported. They have a vital role in food production and climate action and they must get the support they need to ensure family farms remain viable.

Deputy Carol Nolan

I have been raising matters related to the issue we are discussing, veterinary medicines, for a number of years. My concern has been that it would damage the rural economy if the proposal not to allow responsible persons to prescribe all medicines were to go ahead. That system has worked well for many years given that the responsible persons were knowledgeable and understood farmers' needs. My colleagues and I in the Rural Independent Group had hoped the Minister would move faster to provide assurances to licensed merchants and would take on board the recommendations in the report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued last year. It was a pleasure to participate in the committee's discussion, at which there was cross-party unity on this issue and on the need to protect and respect our licensed merchants. My colleague, Deputy Michael Collins, has done a lot of work on this matter in the committee.

The joint committee's report strongly recommended that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine ensure the continuation of the existing network, which includes licensed merchants and veterinary pharmacists, as a recognised route of supply of antiparasitic medicines. However, it now seems that the Government has seen fit to prioritise the views of the EU and the advice of the Attorney General, which was also sought on this matter. This is despite clear evidence that a derogation was possible for agri-merchants. I know from my engagement with the Independent Licensed Merchants Association, ILMA, that in excess of 900 licensed merchants operate in this country, of which an estimated 200 are owner operated, exclusively supplying veterinary medicines and allied inputs, or general farm supply stores supplying a range of other farm requirements, including hardware, feedstuff and fertilisers.

As I said in August 2021, the Department seemed determined to pursue a new regulatory regime that would erode the capacity of the responsible persons to prescribe and sell antiparasitic veterinary medicines. It is difficult to overstate the level of concern that now exists within the agri-merchant sector following the decision of the Department to pursue the regulatory approach outlined in the Bill. This makes a complete mockery of the extensive investigation of this matter carried out by the joint committee and the excellent and balanced report it subsequently issued. It also makes a mockery of the cross-party unity that existed on the committee on this issue. Are we seriously expected to believe the report, which explicitly called for the continuation of the existing network, which includes licensed merchants and veterinary pharmacists as recognised routes of supply of antiparasitic medicines, was somehow reckless in its recommendations or deficient in its insight? It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the Department has simply set aside the solutions on offer in order to pursue and implement a decision that it had already arrived at prior to the beginning of the entire consultation process. When I raised this matter with the then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, in May 2021, he stated that he did not want to see a cliff-edge scenario where employment was jeopardised and the rural economy threatened but that is precisely the situation we have arrived at. That is unacceptable.

Deputy Michael Collins

The Minister was dealt a devastating blow in the lead-up to Christmas as the much anticipated Bill was suddenly put on hold, causing embarrassment and humiliation. The former Attorney General, Paul Gallagher, single-handedly scuttled the Bill with a legal opinion that confirmed to many that it was dead in the water. In a scathing report, the Irish Farmers' Journal exposed the shoddy and haphazard nature of the legislative and consultative process surrounding this Bill, highlighting the inefficiency and incompetence of both the Minister and his Department. It is inconceivable that the Minister would stand tall and present this Bill as anything but a relic of a bygone era. His credibility has been severely damaged and he is unable to bring forth this Bill with any shred of authority.

The stringent regulations on animal medicines imposed by the EU as part of its effort to curb antibiotic use are commendable. There are, however, valid concerns that the stricter controls will result in a near monopoly of veterinary practices in the sale and supply of traditional treatments that have been provided by smaller merchants for years. Despite the Minister's assurance, it is clear the Bill will drive up prices for essential products like doses and drenches, putting enormous pressure on vets who are already in short supply all over the country. The shortage of veterinary services and coverage, a reality faced by farmers in west Donegal in the Minister's constituency, is testament to the dire state of affairs. The Minister's blunder has cast a shadow of doubt over his ability to lead and manage crucial legislative matters. The haphazard approach to the Bill has drawn criticism from various sectors and raises questions about the thoroughness and due diligence exercised by the Minister and his Department. Farmers and the general public deserve better. They deserve to have confidence in their leaders to make informed decisions that impact their lives and livelihoods.

Furthermore, the new rules on animal medicines have far-reaching consequences that cannot be ignored. The impact on smaller merchants who have been providing traditional treatments for years will be significant. Their survival may be at stake. The increase in prices for essential products like doses and drenches will also have a trickle-down effect on farmers who will be forced to bear the additional costs, leading to decreased profitability and competitiveness. If the Minister pushes ahead with the legislation without revision, farmers will face decreased availability of antiparasitic products and increased costs. The sustainability of the co-operative store network, independent merchants and veterinary pharmacists will be severely impacted. The ICOS has requested an immediate meeting with the Minister to seek an amendment to the legislation.

The Minister must take a step back and reassess the Bill, considering the criticisms and concerns raised by various stakeholders. He must engage in meaningful consultation and ensure the legislative process is transparent and thorough. Farmers and members of the public deserve nothing less but it appears that, yet again, the ordinary people on the ground, including hard-working dairy and suckler farmers, will be worst affected by this. The Minister did not stand by them. He should do so now. His constituency is like my constituency of Cork South-West where hardworking farmers are struggling to survive. The price of veterinary products and fertilisers has gone completely out of control. The cost of fuel for farm contractors has also gone out of control over the past 12 months and the Minister stood idly by. He was quite happy that they took it on the chin because he was running with the green agenda, which will wipe out agriculture.

Deputy McConalogue is the Minister who is standing over that. He is the Minister who stands for the farmers and the fishermen of this country - the two groups he has been failing to stand by up until now.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

First, what I would have to say in this debate is a simple straightforward fact. Why, if something is not broken, could the Minister not let it alone? What the Minister will do single-handedly in this legislative process was highlighted by the Irish Farmers' Journal. I thank the Irish Farmers' Journal for the scathing article it wrote, which was very informative. It let the farmers and the people of Ireland know exactly what the Minister is doing in this legislation. What the Minister is doing is attacking a system that was working perfectly well whereby if one goes to a mart or any of the agri-stores, one had small-time providers of medicines, of all the doses and of all the different medicinary items that are needed by farmers. They were providing an excellent service. Now the Minister is attacking their way of living and potentially taking away their livelihood. The Minister is also putting it all over on the veterinarians. Any time the Minister attacks the supply, he is potentially increasing the cost of the goods. That will have a negative effect on farmers at a time when every euro is important and on the service that those people were providing, that is, something else called "credit".

Often a person could be at a mart when he or she might not have the money to pay, but the person dispensing the medicines knew the customer. Those dispensing the medicines knew their farmers were good for it and they would give them a little credit, which would be very important until a cheque would come through, maybe from the mart, for the animals that they were selling on the day. The Minister is interfering with all of that in this and it shows a complete lack of understanding of what the people in the countryside are saying. The farmers are not looking for this. The people providing the veterinarian items are not looking for it. Why, in the name of God, is the Minister doing this?

I come now to look at what the Minister is doing with fertiliser. This new initiative will be a major burden to farmers and merchants. While it is being sold as being about helping farmers maintain their nitrates derogation and monitoring department schemes, in reality it is more about monitoring farmers and beating them into submission to achieve stringent climate targets and ultimately reducing stocking rates. That is what this is actually about. Under this Bill, farmers who do not register for the database will be flagged on the system and reminded to do so. All this would mean is that when ordering fertiliser in the future merchants will be legally required to ask for the farmer's herd number, which must be registered in the national fertiliser database, and any discrepancy will be flagged and addressed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through inspections, fines and, potentially, court appearances.

What we should be debating tonight is the cost of fertiliser, what farmers have to pay for it, what they have to pay for medicines and how difficult it is to be a farmer in the Ireland of today. Instead, the Minister is here tying up more red tape, more legislative quangoism and attacking again, as I say, the merchants.

Has the Minister anything to say? I would like the Minister, when he will be addressing this, to talk about those merchants. I would love the Minister to tell me what has he against them. In our local marts in Kerry, for example, there is a person operating inside in a room and providing a great service to the farmers. That person is extremely knowledgeable about all the doses and everything. What has the Minister got to say to those people whose way of living he is attacking? I would love to hear the Minister answer that. I would love to hear the Minister say that he does not give a damn about them, he will shut them down and they will go home. They see their way of living, making a living for themselves and for their families - they were paying their tax and they were minding their own business - all being taken away from them. Has the Minister got anything to say about that?

Deputy Richard O'Donoghue

This Bill has been passed by the EU. I have many concerns about this Bill. If one looks at the cost it will impose on farmers, we have always seen here from the medical side of things the way different measures have gone. What the Minister has done will mean that if the farmer wants a medicine, he will have got to go to the vet and the paper trail that will follow this has a cost. The farmer will pay the cost because of the paper trail.

The Minister then came along and said that one must register, and register online. The Minister might learn from registration on different systems the Government puts up online that it is nothing but confusing. I have seen recently where now they are doing the safe pass online. They have told us that people who have been passing the safe pass course for many years are now failing it because of the online system and yet the Minister will now complicate this system by putting people online. Does the Minister think farmers have nothing else to do but sit at home, go online, press this button and press that button when the next thing is the Internet fails? They have work to do.

What farmers trusted in previously were the independent people who came and gave them their medicines. If one looks at the stores that were carrying the medicines, it was not only medicines that they were carrying. They were carrying a full range of products for the farming industry but yet - the Minister himself comes from the farming industry - the Minister has complicated the hell out of it. Now the Minister is taking away another product from a business that was set up in a local area. How many creameries have closed in local areas? I counted 11 local creameries in County Limerick in the past three years. Now one has to drive to Limerick if one wants certain products because the Government closed them down. It depends on what co-operative one is with. People locally, in my area, now have to drive to Limerick. The Government is talking about lowering emissions but yet it puts more time on the farmer as if he had nothing else to do but sit into the car and drive to Limerick, taking half an hour out of his day there and half an hour back. It is as if they had nothing else to do but travel around the country when they already are under pressure trying to do the work that they have to do at home.

The paperwork that follows this type of legislation is off the wall. All the Minister will do is put the small farmers in this country out of business. By putting the small farmer in this country out of business, the Minister will have killed the local economy and what they were giving back on the circular economy to the community.

The Minister has also destroyed the next generation. The Minister has taken the next generation completely out of it. They look at their mothers and their fathers working the land and say to their friends that it is not worth it and that they will head off to Australia and leave the land. They see the hard work that their parents, uncles, aunts or whoever have put in to try and keep the family farm. By doing this, the Minister is closing down businesses that were supplying locally to the farmers. The Minister is taking another product off of the businesses and all he has done is put another cost, a prescription cost, onto the farmer. Well done on that, Minister.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

This Bill will have very serious implications for farmers, and especially small farmers in rural Ireland, predominantly in the west. Things are very bad as it is, and it is hard enough for people to survive and to make ends meet. The other problem is how to entice the young generation to follow in their footsteps. With what is going on now, there is no effort being made to help these farmers. We should be talking about the price of fertiliser, and what it is costing people.

It is evident that the purpose of this register is not for fun. This is Green policy. The Minister is saying that the Government is not bringing in any programme to make farmers reduce their herds, but it is doing it in another way. It is evident that in any year the Minister will restrict farmers to so much fertiliser. The Minister has not told us yet what that limit will be but this register is not for the fun of it. The Minister will tell them, and that will be the next legislation or the next part of his programme. The Minister will tell them what they will only be allowed to spread. In any year - I am a farmer too - grass growth is different. Some years one would have to put out way less fertiliser and in others one would have to put out way more because it does not work fast, it is slow to work or in the heat it will not work.

There are so many differences. At the time that farmers want grass to grow, it will not grow without fertiliser and the fertiliser often does not work. Farmers will have to reduce their stock.

There is no concern in the Government about food security. In California, we hear it costs $1 for one egg and $12 for a dozen eggs. It will not be long before that happens here because people have to reduce the number of hens they have and need a herd number to have hens. We have all of this carry-on. The Government is leaving the people behind.

As well as voting for the Healy-Raes, which we are very proud of, people in rural Ireland have voted for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and they still do, but they are being let down at the behest of the Green Party. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will pay a high price for the positions they secured by getting the Green Party to back them. The Green Party is getting everything it wanted at the expense of the people in rural Ireland. A great man, Terence O'Shea, who supplies veterinary products at Kenmare Mart will be gone with the passing of this Bill. Vets did not look for this; they have plenty to do without having more red tape and responsibility imposed on them. It will cause problems for farmers by making it harder for them to access the doses and drenches they need. They were able to do two things at the one time at the mart but now the Government is going to close down Terence O'Shea's business and other businesses. Instead of talking about the cost of fertiliser or trying to help farmers, the Government is trying to paralyse them further and drive them down into the ground, more so than has been done already.

Deputy James O'Connor

I am here for a reason. I am very concerned about antimicrobial resistance and the Department's speed of implementation. I come from a dairy farming background. We milk a sizeable herd at home. As Deputy Sherlock, who has been here longer than I have, would tell the House, Cork East is a constituency steeped in agriculture, particularly dairy farming. Notwithstanding the waffle about farming we listened to for the past ten minutes, when talking to progressive people who understand-----

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I am no waffler.

Deputy James O'Connor

Excuse me, Deputy Healy-Rae. When I need to hear from you, I will ask. Will you please leave?

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

I am no waffler though.

Deputy James O'Connor

Mother of God, he was halfway out the Chamber door. My apologies but that was unacceptable.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Sean Sherlock)

Please proceed.

Deputy James O'Connor

Experts who know about farming are, unfortunately, incredibly concerned about antimicrobial resistance. They do not feel it is being taken seriously enough and are concerned about the speed with which this is being implemented. I am hopeful there will be some degree of progress on that issue under the current Minister. The Bill has the potential in the medium term to have a significant impact on the effectiveness of animal medicines in Ireland. This will have knock-on consequences for the food supply chain in this country. Education is the best way out of this. Perhaps there is an argument that it creates an administrative burden for people living on farms. They are aware of all the ongoing administration that has to be done. There are heaps of it and I recognise that, but this is being done for a reason and it is the correct one.

The attitude taken by some Deputies, including the one we just listened to, comes from a very bad place. I do not understand the opposition to this measure. The reason vets are being asked to intervene in these cases is to ensure there is proper authorisation for the administration of products. Vets could charge €15 or €20 for that service but if doing so safeguards food security for the next two or three decades and prevents even greater negative effects from antimicrobial resistance on food supplies and animal health, it will be worth its weight in gold for farmers across the country. That is the message I received from a retired Department vet I happened to run into recently. The individual in question was very sincere. I wanted to convey that message with the Department officials present.

On the fertiliser issue, farmers engaged in post-quota expansion in the dairy sector are concerned about the impact this will have from an administrative point of view. I encourage the Department to be careful in what it does. Farmers get that there is a push from some parts of the Government - hopefully not from Fianna Fáil - that fertiliser use must be reduced. Fertiliser has a purpose and is important. Depending on the weather and at certain times of the year, significant amounts of fertiliser are required to encourage grass growth. Some of the advances in the area of introducing fertiliser registers, which will probably eventually lead to farmers being asked to reduce their use of fertiliser, are very unfair in the context of post-quota expansion in Ireland. There are people who spend hundreds of thousands of euro, in some cases up to €1 million, of their own money on the expansion of their herds and facilities. They did so on Government advice and on the basis of Harvest 2020. That is not fair. I remember going to talks in Moorepark with my father around the time the quota was to be abolished. The term used to describe milk in Ireland at that time was "liquid gold". That was the farming terminology used when talking to people. Investment was being prioritised for new slurry capacity, new sheds and acquiring land. Thank God for the high milk prices last year because many younger farmers who had engaged in such expansion were put to the pin of their collar. They now see this debate on herd reductions and fertiliser registers, two issues that are causing alarm.

I disagree with the comments made by Opposition Deputies on AMR because they are not based on fact. I am hearing from experts I trust, who have spent their lives working for the betterment of agriculture in this State, that AMR as an issue in Ireland, and internationally, could have devastating consequences for agriculture, including our meat and dairy industries. It is like the law of diminishing marginal utility. As more medication and antibiotics are used in our dairy herds and other sectors of agriculture, the knock-on consequence will be a decline in the effectiveness of these medicines, and that is profoundly concerning.

I ask that the Department engage with organisations, such as the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, and the IFA. I know it has been in talks with those organisations but I ask that it step up that engagement and convey that message. I often recognise that agriculture in our constituencies, Donegal and Cork East, is like chalk and cheese. The Minister has come down to us on several occasions but that is a message that needs to be communicated for the right reasons. It may not be popular to say this, certainly based on what we heard here earlier, but from my experience as someone who farms at weekends, I would like the Minister to drive this on and get it done. This is European legislation. We could have done this sooner but we must do it now.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Sean Sherlock)

I remind colleagues that this business must conclude at 6.09 p.m. There are three speakers offering. I call Deputy McNamara.

Deputy Michael McNamara

I am slightly surprised by the previous speaker's characterisation of this debate as the Opposition speaking waffle and the Government speaking truth. I never subscribed to an Animal Farm characterisation of anything, not even farming and certainly not politics. We have the two legs good, four legs bad view which then changes over and there is a monopoly of wisdom on one side of the House and a monopoly of darkness and ignorance on the other. Governments then change and the monopolies change too. I find that divisive.

I agree with the Deputy, however, to the extent that antimicrobial resistance poses a real problem not just to agriculture but also to humanity. Antimicrobial resistance is a huge problem. We see the result of it in the over-prescribing of medicines to humans. We also saw how antimicrobial resistance grew in the former Soviet Union as a result of the overuse of medicines, sometimes without prescription. Undoubtedly, the same thing can happen and is happening in agriculture.

It is something that needs to be dealt with and I completely agree with Deputy O'Connor to that extent. Equally, I agree with him and with the Minister that the Minister has now very little choice but to bring in this legislation. I would have thought there were other ways to deal with it. Clearly, we need to register the use of antibiotics. Britain obtained a derogation where the dispensing person did not need to be a veterinarian. Ireland did not avail of a derogation at that time. It would be useful to know why because the same practices as existed in Britain, and Northern Ireland for that matter, existed here. I do not have a problem with the requirement to register the use of medicines, or the sale of medicines and to whom they are being sold etc. We need to differentiate a little bit between antimicrobials and antiparasitics in that regard but they are both, as I understand it, being covered by this legislation. Undoubtedly, we need to make sure, as Deputy Cahill said earlier, that there is not an overuse of antiparasitics although arguably this might pose less of an immediate threat than the overuse of antimicrobials. It is still, at best, a waste of money. I do not think anybody would say it is a good idea to be administrating medicines to any livestock if they do not need it. There was a failure to avail of a derogation when Ireland could have. It is not like we do not have plenty of agricultural staff in Brussels; we have always had an agricultural attaché with plenty of support there. I would like to know why that was not availed of at the time.

I am conscious of leaving time for my colleagues to come in but the other concerns I have with regard to the legislation is that we now have a position where inevitably we will have this growth of one-stop shops where veterinarians will prescribe and sell medicine. Potentially there is a dangerous vested interest there in over-prescribing and over-sale of medicines. It is something the Minister should look to curb if he is acknowledging we need this legislation. I accept there is no alternative now but to bring in legislation in accordance with EU law requiring that antimicrobials, and indeed all medicines, be based on a prescription issued by a veterinarian. I would like to know why we did not avail of a derogation when we could have but that ship has sailed or that bird as flown; take whichever cliché one wants to use. Now that we are doing that, is there not a danger of creating a vested interest whereby veterinarians will be able to prescribe and sell? Obviously, the more they prescribe, the more they sell and the more they sell, the more money they make. That is a danger.

With regard to fertilisers, I do not have a problem with the requirement to register fertilisers. There is undoubtedly a huge problem with our water table. Farmers are being scapegoated slightly and Coillte and the forestry sector play a large part in the deterioration of our water table as well. The danger with regard to both medicines and fertilisers is that the regulations are going to come down across the Border and we will have no control, no records, no anything and that is something I fear has not been factored in sufficiently to this.

Deputy Michael Lowry

We live in world of regulations. Almost everything we do on a day-to-day basis is regulated in some way or another. Compared to decades ago in Ireland, the farming industry has seen regulations imposed on almost every aspect of its business. Farmers across Tipperary tell me that the most stressful element of farming is coping with the excessive quantities of red tape and bureaucracy. The vast majority of regulations have been willingly accepted and introduced. The ultimate benefits have been recognised and while costs are always a major concern, compliance with new rules has been largely achieved. This is because the vast majority of farmers see the wisdom in doing so. They see the wisdom and they see the potential benefits. When something makes sense, farmers are the first to acknowledge that fact. One of the key factors to be borne in mind in relation to this Bill is that its purpose is to introduce legislation that will allow for the EU regulations on the issue of veterinary medicines be decided by a national law. This means, or should mean, that we have a say in how these laws are implemented. It should also mean we take on board our own domestic situation, examine how effectively and successfully it is working and scrutinise how new regulations will impact on all partners to the industry. From a farming perspective, this approach is not reflected in this Bill.

Inevitably, laws passed at European Union level will not always be acceptable on a one-size-fits-all basis for each member state. Each country has, up to now, been operating variations in the ways in which it handles matters as determined by its own practices and circumstances. This has long been the case in Ireland. Unless serious problems have been identified with the existing system, the question is why they are being asked to change. When it comes to the use of antiparasitic medicines in farm animals, generations of Irish farmers, including those in Tipperary, have obtained such medications from their local co-op or farm store. This has meant that if a farmer felt an animal required certain medicines such as antiparasitics or antibiotics, it was a matter of purchasing them from the qualified person with responsibility for such sales at the co-op. We all accept that farmers know their animals. They care for them on a daily basis and know exactly what is best for them. This has always been the case and few, if any, problems have arisen. Co-ops know the farmers personally. They take a responsible approach to the dispensing of medications. The system works on knowledge and trust.

However, this Bill means that this long-established practice is no longer considered acceptable. This Bill suggests that farmers are incapable of caring for their animals. It implies that the years of successful experience which farmers have in this area cannot be trusted. Equally it suggest that the co-ops have not been upholding their area of responsibility. Neither of these implications are sustained by facts. Farmers are fully cognisant of the fact that animal products are destined for the human food chain. The production of animals is their livelihood. They do what is correct to keep their animals healthy. In fact, Irish farmers pride themselves on producing healthy and wholesome food.

As a result of this Bill, farmers will now be required to obtain a prescription from a veterinarian in order to obtain routine medicines for their animals. According to the Bill, veterinarians will keep an electronic record of the medicines prescribed to regulate the amounts given and to ensure approved products and standards are adhered to and that the dosage and dosing frequency is appropriate to each animal. Farmers are fully aware, from an animal welfare perspective and from an end user viewpoint, that administering too much or too little of any form of antimicrobial medicine can have detrimental consequences. Their livelihood depends on ensuring their animals are healthy and well. As Ireland exports 85% of its total meat production to 75 countries across the globe, the guaranteed quality of our products is of paramount importance, not just to the overall economy, but to the survival of our already heavily regulated farming industry. Our overall standards are recognised as being very high. Farmers will not risk anything that would jeopardise this major advantage in the marketplace. To imply otherwise is to undermine farmers who work conscientiously to ensure our farm to fork reputation has remained unblemished.

The introduction of these new regulations on veterinary-only prescribing also throws up another serious issue. Have the Minister and the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine factored in the ongoing serious shortage of vets? This lack of vets already poses huge problems for our agrifood sector. The sector is facing a crisis with just one-in-four new registered vets being educated in Ireland. How can farmers be expected to adhere to new regulations if the only people permitted to implement them are not available to prescribe? We are talking about rural Ireland. Vets are not queueing up to live and work in urban areas, much less in rural locations. Will farmers be required to go on a waiting list in order to give routine worm treatments?

The impact of these measures on co-ops across Tipperary and the entire country has been seriously underrated or consciously overlooked. This Bill will have an enormous impact on these businesses which have been the mainstay in farming communities. It will give rise to a loss of a lucrative income for the co-ops and will also threaten jobs and the livelihood of employees. Farmers are loyal to the co-op services they use and have built up long-standing business relationships and friendships with the staff. Apart from their own situation, the farming community is genuinely concerned about the effect the fallout of this Bill will have on co-ops. Co-ops and farming go hand in hand in rural Ireland. They depend on each other. They work together for the common good. The success of one is dependent on the success of the other.

The issues around fertilisers are less contentious but are nonetheless concerning to farmers.

The war in Ukraine has resulted in a reduction in the availability of fertiliser, as many fertiliser production plants were located there. As would be expected, the fallout from this reduced availability has led to a substantial rise in the cost of fertiliser. It is not known how long this situation will last. There are fears that these increased costs will result in widespread restricted fertiliser use and reduced availability of products throughout the current year.

Under the new regulations, there will now be a requirement for farmers' purchase of fertilisers to be recorded on a database. This new database will be designed to track accurately individual farmers' purchase of fertilisers, including all nitrogen, phosphorus and potash sales. With the increased cost of fertilisers, farmers anticipate they will use less fertiliser during 2023. Not only will higher costs be a factor, but a lack of availability and difficulty in obtaining fertiliser will be a problem for all Irish farmers. The fear among farmers is that the reduced level of fertiliser, when officially recorded on a database, will impact on future policy decisions as this is the database that will facilitate Ireland's eco scheme under Ireland's common agricultural strategy. This is of serious concern for farmers as their future livelihoods are dependent on crucial decisions taken remotely on their behalf. This will be unfair and unjust and they need to have a cast-iron guarantee that circumstances outside of their control will not be used as a stick to beat them with in the future.

Deputy Seán Canney

I want to say a few things about the Bill. I was at a protest in Roscommon mart yesterday about the viability of the sheep industry. From speaking to farmers, I am aware that there is a palpable fear that the new legislation will add to the cost of running a farm.

It has been pointed out that existing practice has proven to be good. There is an element of trust between farmers to make sure that livestock get the proper amount of medicine, that is, not too much and not too little. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise anywhere. While the EU has introduced legislation at European level, it is important we examine how we deal with it in our country.

Farm and mart stores are concerned they will lose vital business which keeps them afloat because marts on their own are a very precarious business. Marts have become involved in the business of farm supplies and medicines, administered by people working in them who are qualified to do so.

The idea that all medicines will have to be prescribed is one thing, but the fact that vets will set up shops in which to sell medicines is a source of concern. For example, there will be no rural presence for these medicines. People will have to drive to the nearest town or wherever their vet is. When we give over the right to prescribe, administer and sell particular products, we will find there will be an increase in costs. We will also find that the business of marts and mart and farm supply stores will be decimated.

While there is a need to introduce legislation, it is time to look at this issue in light of the good practice in this country. There is nothing wrong that needs to be put right, bar an EU regulation that needs to be imposed. In doing that, we should tailor the Bill to suit Irish farmers and the way they do their business. We should also make sure they are not going to incur increased costs. We should not realise in five years' time that we are tied up in more bureaucracy and online systems that farmers find it hard to cope with.

At the protest at the mart in Roscommon yesterday one of the things I found striking was the age profile of farmers. There are not too many young farmers. The technology required to record fertilisers and keep account of everything is increasing the digital burden on farmers who do not have the training to do this work. There are farmers who are of an age whereby they are not computer literate and will never be, despite all of the good intentions of people.

Online systems are great in theory. They come from a belief that that is where we are going. However, while we are transitioning to a more digital age we need to make sure that farmers are not caught up in systems they cannot deal with. One good example of this is ANC applications, where farmers have been disqualified from getting any money on the basis they did not click one button. Farmers are fearful that the online system is unforgiving and if they do something wrong there is no recourse to put it right. They are then excluded or penalised. That is what is most concerning for farmers.

Those with small family farms are concerned that they are now in a situation whereby costs are increasing and things are constantly changing. An EPA report released last weekend more or less ruled us out of producing food, apart from a very small amount, and instead advocated flooding our lands and reducing our stocks. It was not helpful that such an unsolicited report would be released and create more fear for farmers, in particular young farmers. I hope the Minister will clearly dismiss the report and put it in the bin because it is not what farmers have signed up to.

Farmers are the custodians of the land and environment. They want to get involved and do things right, but when such reports are released they become fearful. The fact something new is coming in the Bill has created another fear for farmers. It is important that whatever happens here is done in the interests of farmers, the quality of our food products and the viability of our farms.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023 is meant to address two distinct areas of agricultural importance, namely veterinary medicines and fertilisers. While some of this is certainly necessary, there is total over-regulation across agriculture.

As the last speaker said, a large portion of farmers thankfully live to a ripe old age and are still farming into their 80s and 90s. Many are not computer savvy, but they are very proud, bright and well educated and provide wonderful husbandry of the land, flora, fauna, hedgerows and drainage. They understand and love nature.

Many rural areas do not have even a smell of broadband. We keep talking about access to databases and everything else. Some areas are lucky to have an old telephone line provided by Eir and others. In many cases the lines are fed into fields and are hanging into ditches. They are out of control.

Debate adjourned.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Tuesday, 14 Feb 2023

Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023: Second Stage

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 2023