Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan has appointed members to the new Veterinary Council of Ireland.
It is the first council appointed under the legislation governing the veterinary profession which was enacted by the Oireachtas last July.
Ms Coughlan said 10 of the appointments were on an interim basis until elections are held by the council under the new law.
She said membership of the new body was balanced between veterinary and other interests, and reflected areas such as education, animal welfare, consumer interests, users of veterinary services and food safety.
Those appointed are: Barbara Bent, SPCA Wexford, John O'Rourke, Séamus Quinn, and Paddy Rogan, chief veterinary officer at the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Ministerial appointees made on an interim basis are: Donal Connolly; Tom Hanley; Denis Healy; Frank McRory; Melanie O'Donoghue; Frank O'Leary;Meta Osborne; John Strumble; Pat Talty and Lindy Vaughan.
Ministerial appointees nominated by the National University of Ireland are Prof Boyd R Jones, dean of veterinary medicine at UCD, and Dr Finbar Mulligan of UCD's School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine.
Dr Clíodhna Foley-Nolan, a specialist in public health medicine; Prof Grace Mulcahy, head of UCD's veterinary microbiology and parasitology department; and Bríd O'Connor, assistant director at the office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, are also ministerial appointees.