IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 22 of 2005
VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT 2005
REVISED
Updated to 1 January 2026
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an
administrative consolidation of the
Veterinary Practice Act 2005
. It is prepared
by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the
Law Reform
Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake
revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
National Training Fund (Amendment) Act 2025
(21/2025), enacted 23 December 2025, and all
statutory instruments up to and including the
European Union (Restrictive Measures concerning Iraq) Regulations 2026
(S.I. No. 1 of 2026), made 6 January 2026, were considered
in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,
the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,
undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature
of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from
any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email
to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
22
of
2005
VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT 2005
REVISED
Updated to 1 January 2026
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Interpretation.
3.
Establishment day.
4.
Repeals.
PART 2
Former Council
5.
Interpretation (
Part 2
).
6.
Dissolution of former Council.
7.
References to former Council.
8.
Staff of Council.
9.
Rights and liabilities of former Council.
10.
Final accounts of former Council.
PART 3
Veterinary Council of Ireland
11.
Establishment of Veterinary Council of Ireland.
12.
Procedure of Council.
13.
Functions of Council.
14.
Conferral of additional functions on Council.
15.
Ministerial directions to Council.
16.
Appointment of members of Council.
17.
Nomination and appointment of certain members of Council.
18.
Election.
19.
Term of office of members of Council.
20.
Establishment of committees.
21.
Expenses of Council and members of Council, etc.
22.
Removal of members of Council from office.
23.
Registrar.
24.
Staff of Council.
25.
Disclosure of information.
26.
Disclosure of interest by member of Council or committee.
27.
Disclosure of interest by member of staff of Council.
28.
Effect of membership of a House of the Oireachtas or European Parliament.
29.
Accounts and audits.
30.
Annual report and information.
31.
Borrowing by Council.
32.
Gifts.
33.
Fees.
PART 4
Registration
34.
Establishment of Register of Veterinary Practitioners.
35.
General matters relating to registration.
36.
Transitional provisions relating to Register.
37.
Publication of Register.
38.
Evidence of Register.
39.
Granting of titles.
40.
Persons registered in former Register.
41.
Persons entitled to be registered in former Register.
42.
Persons trained in the State.
43.
Mutual recognition — veterinary practitioners.
44.
Registration of person who would not otherwise qualify for registration under
sections 40
to
43
.
45.
Limited registration.
46.
Registration of veterinary specialists.
47.
Persons entitled to be registered as veterinary specialists.
48.
Removal of name from Register as veterinary specialist.
49.
Application for removal of name from relevant register.
50.
Registration of additional qualifications.
51.
Correction of registers.
52.
Regulations under
Part 4
.
PART 5
Practice of Veterinary Medicine
53.
Definition of the practice of veterinary medicine.
54.
Offences in relation to practice of veterinary medicine or use of title.
54A.
Power of Minister to prescribe procedures that may be carried out by non-registered
persons.
54B.
Considerations applicable to exercise of power conferred by
section 54A
.
54C.
Offences — regulations under
section 54A
.
55.
Emergency and exceptions to
section 54
.
56.
Registered persons not to use incorrect title.
57.
Offence for a registered person to employ a non-registered person.
58.
Recovery of fees.
59.
Regulations to provide for practice of veterinary medicine by non-registered persons.
59A.
Indemnity insurance.
60.
Penalties for offences under
Part 5
.
PART 6
Veterinary Education and Training
61.
Interpretation (
Part 6
).
62.
Education Committee.
63.
Functions of Education Committee.
64.
Approval of programme of education.
65.
Prescription of educational qualifications for registration.
66.
Regulations in relation to programmes of further education.
67.
Persons in programmes of education and programmes of further education.
68.
Disclosure of information or interests.
PART 7
Fitness to Practise
69.
Interpretation (
Part 7
).
70.
Preliminary Investigation Committee.
71.
Fitness to Practise Committee.
72.
Appointment to Preliminary Investigation Committee or Fitness to Practise Committee.
73.
Terms of appointment of Preliminary Investigation Committee and Fitness to Practise
Committee.
74.
Fitness to Practise — transitional.
75.
Council may investigate fitness to practise.
76.
Consideration of an application for an inquiry.
77.
Decision of Preliminary Investigation Committee and Council as regards application
for inquiry.
78.
Inquiry by Fitness to Practise Committee.
79.
Report of Fitness to Practise Committee.
80.
Removal or suspension from relevant register or conditions attaching to registration.
81.
Function of Council to advise, warn or censure.
82.
Contribution by registered person.
83.
Restoration to relevant register.
84.
Person convicted of offence triable on indictment.
85.
Privilege in respect of certain matters.
86.
Notification to Minister of name removed or restored, etc., from relevant register.
87.
Personal interest of member of Preliminary Investigation Committee or Fitness to Practise
Committee.
88.
Members of Preliminary Investigation Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee not
to exercise certain functions.
89.
Report of activities of Fitness to Practise Committee to be included in annual report.
PART 8
Veterinary Nurses
90.
Interpretation (
Part 8
).
91.
Veterinary nursing.
92.
Prescribing procedures to which
section 91(2)
applies.
93.
Establishment of Register of Veterinary Nurses.
94.
General matters relating to registration of veterinary nurses.
95.
Registration as veterinary nurse.
95A.
Mutual recognition — veterinary nurses.
96.
Provisional registration as veterinary nurse.
96A.
Registration of persons who would not otherwise qualify for registration under
section 95
or
96
.
96B.
Limited registration — veterinary nurses.
97.
Offences in relation to practice of veterinary nursing or use of title.
98.
Establishment of Board.
99.
Procedure of Board.
100.
Functions of Board.
101.
Transitional arrangements in relation to functions of Board.
102.
Regulations in respect of Board.
103.
Conferral of additional functions on Board.
104.
Ministerial directions to Board.
PART 9
Veterinary Premises
105.
Interpretation (
Part 9
).
106.
Where practice of veterinary medicine may occur.
107.
Regulations in respect of places and events.
108.
Regulations in respect of veterinary premises.
109.
Certificate of suitability.
110.
Application for issue of certificate of suitability.
111.
Regulations in relation to certificates of suitability.
112.
Determination of application for certificate of suitability.
113.
Decision to refuse a certificate of suitability or apply conditions.
114.
Revocation or suspension of certificate of suitability.
115.
Liability.
116.
Transitional.
117.
Inspection of veterinary premises.
117A.
Non-application of
Part 9
to registered persons acting on behalf of State, etc.
118.
False statement.
119.
Forged certificate of suitability.
120.
Register of certificates of suitability.
121.
Certificate of suitability not transferable.
122.
Obligation to display extract from the register of certificates of suitability.
123.
Penalties for offences under
Part 9
.
PART 10
Investigations by Council
124.
Appointment of authorised officers of Council.
125.
Functions of authorised officers.
126.
Power to inspect premises for the purposes of
section 125(a)
or
(c)
.
126A.
Search warrants.
127.
Power to
inspect premises for the purpose of
section 125(c)
.
(Repealed)
128.
Offences under
Part 10
.
129.
Indemnification of authorised officers, etc.
130.
Functions of Council on receipt of report of investigation by authorised officer.
131.
Penalties for offences under
Part 10
.
PART 11
Miscellaneous
132.
Adaptation of certain references.
133.
Regulations.
134.
Service of documents, etc.
135.
Summary proceedings.
136.
Offence by body corporate.
137.
Expenses of Minister.
SCHEDULE 1
PART 1
Acts Repealed
PART 2
Enactments Revoked
SCHEDULE 2
Council: Seal, Elections, Membership, Chair and Meetings
SCHEDULE 3
Mutual Recognition and Establishment of Services
PART 1
Interpretation
PART 2
Provisions to Apply to Applications under Mutual Recognition Requirements of the European
Union
PART 3
Provisions to Apply to Applications that Relate to Establishment of Services
SCHEDULE 4
Education Committee, Preliminary Investigation Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee:— Membership, Chair and Meetings
Acts Referred to
Animal Remedies Act 1993
1993, No. 23
Companies Acts 1963 to 2003
Diseases of Animals Act 1966
1966, No. 6
European Communities Act 1972
1972, No. 27
European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993
1993, No. 25
European Parliament Elections Act 1997
1997, No. 2
Freedom of Information Act 1997
1997, No. 13
Local Government Act 2001
2001, No. 37
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851
14 & 15 Vict., c.93
Solicitors Act 1954
1954, No. 36
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1931
1931, No. 36
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1952
1952, No. 18
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1960
1960, No. 34
Veterinary Surgeons Acts 1931 to 1960
Number
22
of
2005
VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT 2005
REVISED
Updated to 1 January 2026
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A BODY KNOWN AS COMHAIRLE TRÉIDLIANNA NA hÉIREANN OR, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, THE VETERINARY COUNCIL OF IRELAND TO REGULATE
AND MANAGE THE VETERINARY PROFESSIONS AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS OTHER FUNCTIONS, TO PROVIDE
FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A BODY KNOWN AS BORD ALTRAÍ TRÉIDLIACHTA NA hÉIREANN OR, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, THE VETERINARY NURSES BOARD OF IRELAND, TO DISSOLVE
THE VETERINARY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED UNDER THE VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT 1931, TO REPEAL
THE VETERINARY SURGEONS ACTS 1931 TO 1960 AND CERTAIN OTHER ENACTMENTS AND TO PROVIDE
FOR RELATED MATTERS.
[12
th July
, 2005]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Application of Act potentially restricted (6.03.2014) by
Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
(15/2013), s. 16(5), S.I. No. 106 of 2014.
Prohibited operations and procedures.
16.
— ...
(5) Nothing in the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 renders lawful anything done in contravention
of animal health and welfare regulations.
Editorial Notes
E1
The Veterinary Council of Ireland is not a reviewable agency in relation to certain
functions as provided by
Ombudsman Act 1980
(26/1980), s. 4 and schedule part II para. (t) as substituted (30.04.2013) by
Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012
(38/2012), s. 16 and sch. part 1, commenced 6 months after enactment as per s. 1(3).
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Application of Act potentially restricted (6.03.2014) by
Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
(15/2013), s. 16(5), S.I. No. 106 of 2014.
Prohibited operations and procedures.
16.
— ...
(5) Nothing in the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 renders lawful anything done in contravention
of animal health and welfare regulations.
Editorial Notes
E1
The Veterinary Council of Ireland is not a reviewable agency in relation to certain
functions as provided by
Ombudsman Act 1980
(26/1980), s. 4 and schedule part II para. (t) as substituted (30.04.2013) by
Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012
(38/2012), s. 16 and sch. part 1, commenced 6 months after enactment as per s. 1(3).
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Interpretation.
3.
Establishment day.
4.
Repeals.
PART 2
Former Council
5.
Interpretation (
Part 2
).
6.
Dissolution of former Council.
7.
References to former Council.
8.
Staff of Council.
9.
Rights and liabilities of former Council.
10.
Final accounts of former Council.
PART 3
Veterinary Council of Ireland
11.
Establishment of Veterinary Council of Ireland.
12.
Procedure of Council.
13.
Functions of Council.
14.
Conferral of additional functions on Council.
15.
Ministerial directions to Council.
16.
Appointment of members of Council.
17.
Nomination and appointment of certain members of Council.
18.
Election.
19.
Term of office of members of Council.
20.
Establishment of committees.
21.
Expenses of Council and members of Council, etc.
22.
Removal of members of Council from office.
23.
Registrar.
24.
Staff of Council.
25.
Disclosure of information.
26.
Disclosure of interest by member of Council or committee.
27.
Disclosure of interest by member of staff of Council.
28.
Effect of membership of a House of the Oireachtas or European Parliament.
29.
Accounts and audits.
30.
Annual report and information.
31.
Borrowing by Council.
32.
Gifts.
33.
Fees.
PART 4
Registration
34.
Establishment of Register of Veterinary Practitioners.
35.
General matters relating to registration.
36.
Transitional provisions relating to Register.
37.
Publication of Register.
38.
Evidence of Register.
39.
Granting of titles.
40.
Persons registered in former Register.
41.
Persons entitled to be registered in former Register.
42.
Persons trained in the State.
43.
Mutual recognition — veterinary practitioners.
44.
Registration of person who would not otherwise qualify for registration under
sections 40
to
43
.
45.
Limited registration.
46.
Registration of veterinary specialists.
47.
Persons entitled to be registered as veterinary specialists.
48.
Removal of name from Register as veterinary specialist.
49.
Application for removal of name from relevant register.
50.
Registration of additional qualifications.
51.
Correction of registers.
52.
Regulations under
Part 4
.
PART 5
Practice of Veterinary Medicine
53.
Definition of the practice of veterinary medicine.
54.
Offences in relation to practice of veterinary medicine or use of title.
54A.
Power of Minister to prescribe procedures that may be carried out by non-registered
persons.
54B.
Considerations applicable to exercise of power conferred by
section 54A
.
54C.
Offences — regulations under
section 54A
.
55.
Emergency and exceptions to
section 54
.
56.
Registered persons not to use incorrect title.
57.
Offence for a registered person to employ a non-registered person.
58.
Recovery of fees.
59.
Regulations to provide for practice of veterinary medicine by non-registered persons.
59A.
Indemnity insurance.
60.
Penalties for offences under
Part 5
.
PART 6
Veterinary Education and Training
61.
Interpretation (
Part 6
).
62.
Education Committee.
63.
Functions of Education Committee.
64.
Approval of programme of education.
65.
Prescription of educational qualifications for registration.
66.
Regulations in relation to programmes of further education.
67.
Persons in programmes of education and programmes of further education.
68.
Disclosure of information or interests.
PART 7
Fitness to Practise
69.
Interpretation (
Part 7
).
70.
Preliminary Investigation Committee.
71.
Fitness to Practise Committee.
72.
Appointment to Preliminary Investigation Committee or Fitness to Practise Committee.
73.
Terms of appointment of Preliminary Investigation Committee and Fitness to Practise
Committee.
74.
Fitness to Practise — transitional.
75.
Council may investigate fitness to practise.
76.
Consideration of an application for an inquiry.
77.
Decision of Preliminary Investigation Committee and Council as regards application
for inquiry.
78.
Inquiry by Fitness to Practise Committee.
79.
Report of Fitness to Practise Committee.
80.
Removal or suspension from relevant register or conditions attaching to registration.
81.
Function of Council to advise, warn or censure.
82.
Contribution by registered person.
83.
Restoration to relevant register.
84.
Person convicted of offence triable on indictment.
85.
Privilege in respect of certain matters.
86.
Notification to Minister of name removed or restored, etc., from relevant register.
87.
Personal interest of member of Preliminary Investigation Committee or Fitness to Practise
Committee.
88.
Members of Preliminary Investigation Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee not
to exercise certain functions.
89.
Report of activities of Fitness to Practise Committee to be included in annual report.
PART 8
Veterinary Nurses
90.
Interpretation (
Part 8
).
91.
Veterinary nursing.
92.
Prescribing procedures to which
section 91(2)
applies.
93.
Establishment of Register of Veterinary Nurses.
94.
General matters relating to registration of veterinary nurses.
95.
Registration as veterinary nurse.
95A.
Mutual recognition — veterinary nurses.
96.
Provisional registration as veterinary nurse.
96A.
Registration of persons who would not otherwise qualify for registration under
section 95
or
96
.
96B.
Limited registration — veterinary nurses.
97.
Offences in relation to practice of veterinary nursing or use of title.
98.
Establishment of Board.
99.
Procedure of Board.
100.
Functions of Board.
101.
Transitional arrangements in relation to functions of Board.
102.
Regulations in respect of Board.
103.
Conferral of additional functions on Board.
104.
Ministerial directions to Board.
PART 9
Veterinary Premises
105.
Interpretation (
Part 9
).
106.
Where practice of veterinary medicine may occur.
107.
Regulations in respect of places and events.
108.
Regulations in respect of veterinary premises.
109.
Certificate of suitability.
110.
Application for issue of certificate of suitability.
111.
Regulations in relation to certificates of suitability.
112.
Determination of application for certificate of suitability.
113.
Decision to refuse a certificate of suitability or apply conditions.
114.
Revocation or suspension of certificate of suitability.
115.
Liability.
116.
Transitional.
117.
Inspection of veterinary premises.
117A.
Non-application of
Part 9
to registered persons acting on behalf of State, etc.
118.
False statement.
119.
Forged certificate of suitability.
120.
Register of certificates of suitability.
121.
Certificate of suitability not transferable.
122.
Obligation to display extract from the register of certificates of suitability.
123.
Penalties for offences under
Part 9
.
PART 10
Investigations by Council
124.
Appointment of authorised officers of Council.
125.
Functions of authorised officers.
126.
Power to inspect premises for the purposes of
section 125(a)
or
(c)
.
126A.
Search warrants.
127.
Power to
inspect premises for the purpose of
section 125(c)
.
(Repealed)
128.
Offences under
Part 10
.
129.
Indemnification of authorised officers, etc.
130.
Functions of Council on receipt of report of investigation by authorised officer.
131.
Penalties for offences under
Part 10
.
PART 11
Miscellaneous
132.
Adaptation of certain references.
133.
Regulations.
134.
Service of documents, etc.
135.
Summary proceedings.
136.
Offence by body corporate.
137.
Expenses of Minister.
SCHEDULE 1
PART 1
Acts Repealed
PART 2
Enactments Revoked
SCHEDULE 2
Council: Seal, Elections, Membership, Chair and Meetings
SCHEDULE 3
Mutual Recognition and Establishment of Services
PART 1
Interpretation
PART 2
Provisions to Apply to Applications under Mutual Recognition Requirements of the European
Union
PART 3
Provisions to Apply to Applications that Relate to Establishment of Services
SCHEDULE 4
Education Committee, Preliminary Investigation Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee:— Membership, Chair and Meetings
Number
22
of
2005