A Belmullet, Co Mayo-based veterinary surgeon has said he will oppose any attempt by Údarás na Gaeltachta to pay a €30 call-out fee to vets to service the Erris area of north Mayo.
John Healy, who has been operating in the area for 29 years, said yesterday he regarded a pilot scheme being set up in the area as "unconstitutional".
Údarás had been responding to appeals from some farmers in the area who had complained at the lack of full-time clinical veterinary services in the Erris area.
"Those who are making the claim that there are no veterinary services in the area are wrong. I have been practising here for 29 years, and have been servicing the majority of farmers here," he said.
"What these farmers are looking for is choice and that, I believe, should not be subvented by any agency.
"I believe it would be unconstitutional if this happens and I will oppose it, legally if necessary," said Mr Healy.
He said doctors on the western seaboard did not get such a call-out fee because they were well paid for doing their work under the GMS contract.
Vets relied on the testing of cattle for their main wage, and in recent years he had been aware that there had been a dramatic fall in the number of cattle to be tested.
Mr Healy said that as in all professions, he would have disagreements with some of his clients, but he still catered for the needs of two-thirds of farmers on the Erris peninsula.
"In some areas of the country I have seen some practices coming into an area and doing the testing which is the easier part of practice because you can plan it," he said.
"However, people like that will not do any night work and that is where farmers really need service when their animals get sick at night or over the weekend."