New president and deputy president of Veterinary Council of Ireland

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) has appointed Joseph Walsh as president and Caroline Garvan as deputy president.

The VCI is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the public interest and in the interests of animal health and welfare.

The incoming president and deputy president were appointed, following an uncontested election, by council members at the most recent VCI meeting, which took place on 22 January 2026. Joseph Walsh and Caroline Garvan assumed office with immediate effect.

Walsh is a vet and is currently a partner in a four-person mixed practice in Carrick-On-Suir, Co Tipperary. He also works as a veterinary officer for the Irish Horse Racing Board at spring and autumn point-to-points.

“It is an immense privilege to have been elected as president of the Veterinary Council of Ireland. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the council, along with the registrar and executive team in the interest of the public and of animal health and welfare,” Walsh said.

Honour

Garvan is a vet and a senior superintending veterinary inspector with the Department of Agriculture.

She is programme manager for Ireland’s national action plan to address antimicrobial resistance.

She has spent 12 years in private practice, mixed and companion animal, both in the UK and Ireland. Garvan also sits on the Animal Health Ireland CellCheck implementation group.

“It is truly an honour to be serving in this new role and it was extremely rewarding to have been elected by my colleagues on the council. The work of the veterinary council is vital to ensure a well-regulated veterinary sector in Ireland and protecting the interests of the public.”

CEO and registrar of the VCI Niamh Muldoon said: “I warmly congratulate our new president and deputy president on their incoming term of office and look forward to working with them both to continue the work of the veterinary council on matters of animal health and welfare and public health.”

She thanked outgoing president Rachel Brown for her “high level of commitment and dedication in the performance of her role over the preceding two years”.