The veterinary profession could lose its majority on the Veterinary Council under the terms of a Bill being introduced this evening in the Seanad by the Minister for Agriculture, Ms Coughlan.
The Veterinary Bill will change the situation under which that profession has always held 12 of the 17 council places.
Ms Coughlan said last night the new council would have much wider representation with representation from groups such as the Food Safety Authority and consumer organisations.
It would also provide for the registration of qualified veterinary personnel from outside the EU to include personnel with specialist qualifications.
"For the first time, veterinary medicine will be defined in law under the terms of the Bill which will also provide for the registration of veterinary nurses and will establish the standards for veterinary premises," she said.
Ms Coughlan added that the Bill would also deal with the rules governing fitness to practise.