Factory vets have been instructed to turn up for work as normal amid protests by the Beef Plan Movement.
Veterinary Ireland chief executive Finbarr Murphy said that the veterinary representative body had clarified to its temporary veterinary inspector (TVI) members that they were expected to attend factories for work.
In a circular issued to vets, Veterinary Ireland said: “As members of a trade union, and under established ICTU picketing policies, Veterinary Ireland TVI members should report for TVI work as normal and should carry out their normal TVI duties.”
Sympathised
Murphy told the Irish Farmers Journal that while Veterinary Ireland sympathised with farmers, the protest was not any form of industrialised action and, as a union, its advice to members was to present for work.
He added that there was some misinformation about TVIs not reporting for work.
“In some cases, cattle did not arrive into the factory because of the protest and so the veterinary inspector did not put out the shift and TVIs were not invited to work,” he said.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that some vets felt intimidated by protestors at the gates of some factories.
Challenged
It is understood veterinary staff were challenged in gaining access to ABP Nenagh for the first part of Tuesday's kill but following the vets gaining access, the two other processing periods resumed as normal.
Catherine Guest, a Beef Plan Movement committee member and suckler farmer told the Irish Farmers Journal she was at the factory when protesting farmers spoke with four TVI vets as they arrived for work.
“We asked the vets not to pass the picket [on Wednesday]. We were aware that cattle went into the factory on Monday before we got here and agreed with the vets that they needed to be killed [on Tuesday] on animal welfare grounds,” the Borrisoleigh farmer said.
“On a personal basis, I would regret if they felt intimidated by being here. It’s certainly not the reason why I’m here but we’re here to get fairness, to get a fair price for our stock,” she said.
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No cattle pass the picket at Beef Plan protest in Nenagh
Factory vets have been instructed to turn up for work as normal amid protests by the Beef Plan Movement.
Veterinary Ireland chief executive Finbarr Murphy said that the veterinary representative body had clarified to its temporary veterinary inspector (TVI) members that they were expected to attend factories for work.
In a circular issued to vets, Veterinary Ireland said: “As members of a trade union, and under established ICTU picketing policies, Veterinary Ireland TVI members should report for TVI work as normal and should carry out their normal TVI duties.”
Sympathised
Murphy told the Irish Farmers Journal that while Veterinary Ireland sympathised with farmers, the protest was not any form of industrialised action and, as a union, its advice to members was to present for work.
He added that there was some misinformation about TVIs not reporting for work.
“In some cases, cattle did not arrive into the factory because of the protest and so the veterinary inspector did not put out the shift and TVIs were not invited to work,” he said.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that some vets felt intimidated by protestors at the gates of some factories.
Challenged
It is understood veterinary staff were challenged in gaining access to ABP Nenagh for the first part of Tuesday's kill but following the vets gaining access, the two other processing periods resumed as normal.
Catherine Guest, a Beef Plan Movement committee member and suckler farmer told the Irish Farmers Journal she was at the factory when protesting farmers spoke with four TVI vets as they arrived for work.
“We asked the vets not to pass the picket [on Wednesday]. We were aware that cattle went into the factory on Monday before we got here and agreed with the vets that they needed to be killed [on Tuesday] on animal welfare grounds,” the Borrisoleigh farmer said.
“On a personal basis, I would regret if they felt intimidated by being here. It’s certainly not the reason why I’m here but we’re here to get fairness, to get a fair price for our stock,” she said.
Read more
Man hospitalised after incident at Beef Plan Movement protest
Factory suspends cattle killing as Beef Plan protests continue
No cattle pass the picket at Beef Plan protest in Nenagh
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