The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) has said that "regulation alone" cannot resolve "every workforce challenge".

The body, which regulates the veterinary profession in Ireland, made the comment in a statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food this week.

The VCI appeared before the committee yesterday (Wednesday, June 16) to take questions in relation to challenges in the veterinary nursing sector around staff retention and salaries.

The VCI's attendance at the meeting comes after some TDs and senators on the committee were left miffed that the VCI was not present at the last committee meeting on this issue.

While an initial invitation to the VCI to attend that meeting was withdrawn by the committee, it is understood that many members were not convinced by the stated reason; namely that the matters being discussed fell outside the regulator's remit.

The VCI did reiterate at yesterday's committee meeting that it had not declined to attend the earlier meeting.

In its opening statement to the committee (which was verbally summarised during the committee by VCI Veterinary Nursing Committee chairperson Paul McDermott), the regulator said: "As members may be aware, an earlier invitation to attend the previous [committee] meeting on June 17 was withdrawn.

"Unfortunately, this appears to have given rise to a misunderstanding that the Veterinary Council had declined to attend. That was not the case. The Veterinary Council welcomed the opportunity to engage then, and we welcome the opportunity to do so today," the statement said.

Veterinary nursing

Addressing the work condition issue for veterinary nurses flagged in the previous committee, the VCI highlighted that it "does not set salaries, determine employment conditions or negotiate industrial relations matters".

"Those are matters for employers, employees and their representative organisations," the VCI said.

However, it did say that, where workforce issues intersect with its statutory responsibilities, the council "has sought to play a constructive leadership role".

"The Veterinary Council recognises that recruitment and retention of veterinary nurses is one of the most significant challenges currently facing the profession," the VCI statement said.

"We also recognise that this is a complex challenge with no single solution. It requires the collective efforts of government, employers, representative organisations and the regulator," it added.

The VCI said its Veterinary Workforce Report, published in 2025, identified veterinary nursing workforce sustainability as a priority.

The council also said it is reviewing the Code of Professional Conduct to "ensure it remains fit for a modern profession".

It also cited a guidance document called Role and Scope of the Veterinary Nurse.

The document was designed to "promote the role of theveterinary nurse and to increase understanding and awareness of the veterinary nursing profession".

This document was produced in 2020 and is now being reviewed and will be updated in conjunction with the Codes of Professional Conduct," the VCI said.

It also said that it has identified a number of legislative amendments which set out to strengthen the regulatory framework for veterinary nursing.

Retention

According to the VCI, its workforce report confirms that retention is a "significant challenge" across both veterinary nursing and veterinary professions.

However, it also said that many of the factors involved, including pay, employment conditions and career structures, extend beyond its statutory powers.

"While regulation alone cannot resolve every workforce challenge, effective regulation helps maintain public confidence, supports high professional standards and creates the conditions in which veterinary nurses can build rewarding and sustainable careers," the statement said.

The VCI said it will "continue to work constructively with all stakeholders across government, educational institutions, representative organisations and veterinary professions to support a sustainable veterinary nursing workforce".