I hear the Department of Agriculture is keeping a close eye on the Veterinary Council, including the ongoing interviews to appoint a new registrar.

Whoever is appointed to the €100,000 role will be the fifth registrar in 12 months.

Valerie Beatty stepped down last March after many years of service.

Co Cork vet Bill Cashman was voted in as interim registrar by his fellow council vets.

However, within weeks he was gone after the Department advised that under the Veterinary Practices Act 2005 a sitting Council member could not be registrar.

The council then appointed Seán Brady on an interim basis.

However, his contract was ended in November before a permanent replacement was appointed.

It was during his time that the council issued its controversial guidelines tightening rules on supply of antibiotics – after little consultation with stakeholders.

Fiona Tierney, former chief executive of the Public Appointments Service, has now been appointed as acting registrar – with the blessing of Department secretary general Brendan Gleeson.

The new registrar will have to sort out the controversy about ownership of practices. Last year the Council hired Grant Thornton to do a report on the issue. No report has been published.