Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1952

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR No. 18/1952
• Year: 1952

Number 18 of 1952.
VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT, 1952.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section 1. Interpretation. 2. Qualification of holders of veterinary degrees as veterinary surgeons. 3. Supervisory functions of Council. 4. Confirmation of scheduled agreement. 5. Power to provide for reconstitution of Council. 6. Power to provide for certain obligations of Council and registered persons. 7. Additional disciplinary power to Council. 8. Practice of veterinary surgery by unregistered persons. 9. Power to council to hold land. 10. Gifts to Council. 11. Short title, construction and collective citation.
SCHEDULE.
Acts Referred to Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931 No. 36 of 1931
Number 18 of 1952.
VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT, 1952.
AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION FOR THE TEACHING OF VETERINARY SURGERY AND VETERINARY MEDICINE AND FOR THE REGULATION AND CONTROL OF THE PROFESSION AND TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE MATTERS AFORESAID. [7th August, 1952.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—
	Interpretation.	1.—(1) In this Act—
	“the Act of 1931” means the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931 (No. 36 of 1931);
	“the Council” means the Veterinary Council;
	“the Minister” means the Minister for Agriculture;
	“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Council;
	“the register” means the register of veterinary surgeons maintained by the Council, and the word “registered” shall be construed accordingly;
	“veterinary surgery” includes veterinary medicine.
	(2) The register shall be known as the Register of Veterinary Surgeons for Ireland.
	Qualification of holders of veterinary degrees as veterinary surgeons.	2.—(1) Where—
	(a) a university in the State confers a veterinary degree, and
	(b) the Minister is satisfied, after consultation with the Council, that the courses of study leading to the degree have been pursued at a college or other institution approved by him for the purpose after consultation with the Council, and
	(c) it appears to the Minister, after consultation with the Council, that the examinations for the degree are such as sufficiently to guarantee that holders of the degree will have acquired the knowledge and skill needed for the efficient practice of veterinary surgery,
	the Government may by order direct that any person on whom the degree is conferred during the continuance in force of the order shall, on applying in the prescribed manner and paying the required fee, be registered in the register.
	(2) The Government may by order revoke an order under subsection (1).
	Supervisory functions of Council.	3.—(1) The following provisions of this section shall have effect for the purpose of securing that the courses of study to be followed by students for a degree, in the case of which an order under subsection (1) of section 2 is for the time being in force, and the standard of proficiency required for admission thereto, shall be such as sufficiently to guarantee that holders of the degree will have acquired the knowledge and skill needed for the efficient practice of veterinary surgery; and it shall be the duty of the Council to exercise the powers conferred on them by the said provisions so far as is necessary for the purpose aforesaid.
	(2) The Council shall have power to appoint persons to visit any college or other institution in the case of which an order under subsection (1) of section 2 is for the time being in force, and to report upon the courses of study, staffing, accommodation and equipment available for training in veterinary surgery and the other arrangements and facilities for such training.
	(3) (a) The Council may appoint persons to attend at examinations leading to a degree in the case of which an order under subsection (1) of section 2 is for the time being in force and to report to the Council as to the sufficiency of the examinations and as to such other matters relating thereto as the Council may require.
	(b) Nothing in this subsection shall authorise a person appointed thereunder to interfere with the conduct of any examination.
	(4) On receipt of any report made under this section—
	(a) the Council shall send a copy thereof to the university concerned;
	(b) the university may within one month of the receipt of the copy make to the Council observations on the report or objections thereto;
	(c) as soon as may be after the expiration of the said month the Council shall send to the Minister a copy of the report and of any observations thereon or objections thereto duly made, together with the Council's comments on the report and on any such observations or objections.
	(5) Every university granting a degree in the case of which an order under subsection (1) of section 2 is for the time being in force shall, on a request in writing in that behalf made by the Council, furnish the Council with such information as may be specified in the request as to the courses of study and examinations leading to the degree.
	Confirmation of scheduled agreement.	4.—(1) The agreement set forth in the Schedule to this Act (in this section referred to as the scheduled agreement) is hereby confirmed and shall have the force of law.
	(2) (a) The Government may by order give effect to any further agreement that may be entered into between the parties to the scheduled agreement in relation to the training, registration and control of veterinary surgeons and matters incidental thereto.
	(b) An order under this subsection shall not have effect unless it is confirmed by resolution of each House of the Oireachtas but, upon being so confirmed, it shall have the force of law and shall have effect in lieu of the corresponding provisions of the Act of 1931 specified in the order.
	Power to provide for reconstitution of Council.	5.—(1) The Government may by order provide for the reconstitution of the Council for the purpose of giving effect to any order or agreement made as provided for in subsection (2) of section 4 or whenever, after consultation between the Minister and the Council, they are satisfied that it is necessary to do so.
	(2) An order under subsection (1) shall not have effect unless it is confirmed by resolution of each House of the Oireachtas but, upon being so confirmed, it shall have the...