Banagher vet elected to Veterinary Council of Ireland

An Offaly vet has been elected to the Veterinary Council of Ireland. 

Arthur O’Connor, who is based in Banagher, is one of four elected candidates to the statutory body responsible for the regulation and management of the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing following voting.

The elected candidates are Séamus (James Kevin) McManus, Patrick Gerard Cusack, Arthur O’Connor and Ian Fleming.

The four new members were elected by registrants of the Veterinary Council of Ireland. The elected practitioners will be appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Mr Michael Creed T.D., to commence their term on January 1, 2020.

Arthur O’Connor is a newly elected member of the Council, as is Ian Fleming. Both Patrick Gerard Cusack and Séamus McManus are returning Council members.

Mr O’Connor is engaged by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and has 25 years’ experience in private practice, with 20 years as the principal vet of a mainly large animal practice in Offaly.

He is currently the Honorary Treasurer of the Veterinary Officers Association and is also an active member of the Veterinary Officers Association Animal Welfare sub-committee.

A member of Veterinary Ireland, he is a former Vice-Chair of Veterinary Ireland’s Food Animal Interest Group and has served on Veterinary Ireland’s Board of Directors. Arthur has previously worked as a consultant in the food industry on animal management and welfare.

Peadar Ó Scanaill, President of the Veterinary Council of Ireland said: “I wish to congratulate the four successful candidates. I believe that each of them will serve the Council well in the years to come. I am confident they will do their utmost to uphold the highest standards in the best interests of animal health and welfare, and in the interest of our registrants”.