A CO Limerick veterinary surgeon who lost his High Court challenge to the State backed artificial insemination service for cattle began an appeal to the Supreme Court yesterday.
Mr Owen O'Neill, of Ballyart House, Brittas, Co Limerick claimed the present service to farmers was inefficient and did not use the best technology. He challenged the legality of the Department of Agriculture's policy which placed geographical and quantitative restrictions on the number of licences granted and said it was contrary to Irish law and to EU competition law.
In the High Court judgment in 1995, the judge found that the Department practice of granting one licence for each of nine areas in the country appeared eminently reasonable and stemmed from a concern to provide a quality Al service throughout the State.
In his view the Minister was entitled to and acted reasonably in approving the Al regime by granting licences giving exclusive operational areas and this was within his powers under the Livestock (Artificial Insemination) Act 1947 and 1948 Regulations.
He rejected Mr O'Neill's claim that the AI regime in this State conflicted with EU competition law.
The appeal continues today.