A Bill aimed at preventing corporate ownership of veterinary practices has moved to committee stage in the Dáil.
The Veterinary Practice Amendment Bill, first introduced in 2021 by former Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill, is now being sponsored by Carlow/Kilkenny TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere.
ADVERTISEMENT
The legislation would require veterinary practices to be owned only by qualified veterinary practitioners, with Cleere saying it had long been understood that only registered vets could own such practices prior to 2016.
Speaking on the reintroduction of the Bill, Deputy Cleere said:
“In countries where corporate bodies are permitted to purchase veterinary practices, including the UK, we have seen a decline in service levels alongside rising costs for consumers. This can lead to restricted opening hours, longer waiting times and, in some cases, animal welfare concerns.”
“Ireland has a veterinary service we can be extremely proud of, particularly the 24-hour care provided across both large and small animal practices. These services are vital for farmers, pet owners and rural communities alike.”
“We have a veterinary service in this country of which we can be very proud. It provides a 24-hour service. This is not just for farmers; it also includes small animal practices. They are often the target of corporate entities as they are the most lucrative of practices financially.”
“The purpose of this Bill is to ensure that veterinary practitioners remain at the centre of veterinary care delivery. Veterinary Ireland fully supports this approach as a way of protecting service quality, maintaining accessibility and ensuring costs remain reasonable for consumers.”
ADVERTISEMENT
