Mayo-based vet, Paul McDermott MVB MRCVS MSc CertVPH, has become the newest leader of Veterinary Ireland.
He moved to fill the role of president at the body’s AGM & conference in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Co. Westmeath, last month.
Having previously been in private veterinary practice in Co. Mayo, for the past 15 years, he has served as the Veterinary Officer for Mayo County Council.
He has direct responsibility for compliance and oversight of animal welfare, animal health, public health, and food safety – oversight and regulation of abattoirs, small meat manufacturing plants and other registered premises in County Mayo, Ireland.
Paul has been an active member of the Local Authority Employees Interest Group since taking up his duties with Mayo County Council.
Moreover, he has served as LA chair for the past two years, during which time he has been a member of the Veterinary Ireland Board of Directors and the Veterinary Ireland National Council.
Paul has a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Public Health and has been a member of the Veterinary Ireland Animal Welfare Committee since 2013, having undertaken work specifically on welfare of animals during transportation.
Previous articles on this conference
“The worrying development of APR (antiparasitic resistance) threatens the sustainability of Ireland’s grass-based production model.”
That is what the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, told attendees as he performed the official opening at this event.
He said APR has potentially “devastating” impacts on animal health and welfare and can result in production losses in food-producing species, presenting a challenge for food security.
“Anthelmintic resistance is a complex problem, and as management practices and risk factors vary markedly between farms, there is huge value in tailored veterinary advice.”
Read more on this article.
Climate mitigations
Obligations and necessities around climate change, climate adaptation and climate mitigation may profoundly impact the nature of the veterinary profession.
That is what Dr. Ellen Hegarty MVB MSc – author of a report entitled vetting the professions for a climate-changing world – told attendees of this conference.
She completed an assessment of the attitudes and perceptions of the Irish veterinary professions to climate change and the supports they require to take a proactive role in climate change mitigation and adaptation (September 2021).
Read more on this news article.
