Correspondence, which has been circulated, has been received from the Veterinary Council, the statutory corporation established under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1931, and from Veterinary Ireland, an organisation representing veterinary surgeons, seeking to meet the joint committee to discuss the Veterinary Practice Bill 2004, which has reached Committee Stage in the Seanad. This is legislation and it would be fair to meet with both groups separately. Have members any views on the requests?

It is a good idea that we should meet separately with the two groups. They probably have slightly different perspectives on it.

It is suggested that the meetings take place on Wednesday, 19 January 2005 at 11.30 a.m. with the Veterinary Council and Wednesday, 26 January 2005 at 3.00 p.m., which is the date the Dáil resumes.

Is it possible to meet the two groups separately but on the same day? I feel that there may be other groups that may also be interested in this Bill.

The chief executive of the Veterinary Council is not available the week of 19 January.

I believe that there will be a number of other interested parties that might want to talk to us about the legislation and that we might find ourselves having this same debate a number of times.

We can bring in other groups at the same time.

Is there a representative body for the veterinary nurses? They are part of the recommendations in the Bill.

Are they in a separate group or are they part of the Veterinary Council?

They are part of the recommendations, so they are part of the controversy surrounding the Bill. If they have some sort of representative body, it might be useful to hear its views.

They are not represented. It is up to any group to decide if it wants to come in to meet us. We will look at any request that comes our way. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Which group will be here on 19 January?

The Veterinary Council will be in on 19 January.

Will the groups circulate a presentation prior to the meeting?

Yes. A report has been circulated on COM (2003) 577, which is an amended proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific rules for the organisations of the official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption. The report takes account of a number of other proposals relating to food hygiene which were discussed with Department officials at a recent meeting. Is the report agreed? Agreed. Copies of the report will be placed in the Library as required.

Reports of the visit to Slovenia and the Czech Republic have been circulated. Have members any comments to make on the reports?

I compliment the Chairman and his staff in producing a comprehensive report. This is especially the case in light of recent newspaper articles about committees and travel. It is good to see a comprehensive report such as this one.

I agree with the Deputy. The reports are comprehensive and a credit to the staff involved. It is appropriate that we should receive them. They are very detailed and I congratulate the Chairman and the staff.

I thank the Deputies and I also pay tribute to the staff for an excellent report.

Was the Chairman addressed as "president" or "chairman"?

Are the reports agreed? Agreed.

A report of the conference of committees of agriculture of EU member states, the European Parliament and the applicant countries has been circulated. Have members any comments on the report?

I compliment the presentation of the report. They are most comprehensive. The Chairman and I both found the conference very interesting as we heard the opinions of some of our colleagues in Europe on different positions. The clerk and his officials should be complimented for the report.

I compliment the Deputy on the questions that he asked on the day. They were very relevant to the issue being discussed.

I was with the committee in Warsaw. Prior to leaving Ireland, we got a report which gave us a good background on Polish agriculture. We had more of an insight when we got there, so I also compliment the staff for that report as well as this report.

I thank the Deputy. Is the report agreed? Agreed.

I wish all members and staff a very happy and peaceful Christmas and the very best for 2005. It has been a very busy year and I thank everyone for their co-operation during the last 12 months.

The joint committee adjourned at 5.20 p.m. sine die.