Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
260. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to improve the pay and condition for Ireland's veterinary nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22742/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment Departments have no role in setting, prescribing or regulating salary scales for employees of private sector organisations, including those working in privately-operated veterinary practices. Pay and conditions in the veterinary sector are matters for individual employers and employees, or their representative bodies, and are determined through normal contractual arrangements and labour-market negotiations.
The Veterinary Council of Ireland, which regulates the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing under the aegis of my Department has no statutory function in relation to remuneration, and neither does my Department. Accordingly, any salary structures or pay-scale considerations for Registered Veterinary Nurses or other staff within private veterinary practices remain entirely outside the remit of Government pay policy.
