Gardaí were contacted multiple times in relation to threats made to Department of Agriculture staff.
ADVERTISEMENT
Threats have been made to Department of Agriculture staff on multiple occasions, with the gardaí informed of this intimidating behaviour.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Independent TD Carol Nolan, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue confirmed that Department staff had been threatened verbally, physically and in writing.
“I wish to inform the deputy that my Department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána on a number of occasions from 2020 to date due to verbal, written and physical threats being addressed to staff working within this Department during the course of carrying out their duties.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The assistance of An Garda Síochána in relation to these matters is greatly appreciated as we ensure that we have a safe place of work for our staff,” the minister said.
Unacceptable
Commenting on the Minister for Agriculture’s revelation, Nolan said regardless of the policies implemented by the Department, no reaction to these should require garda intervention.
“It is totally unacceptable for that sense of disagreement to cross the threshold whereby the intervention of the gardaí is then required. I would hope that departmental staff, the vast majority of whom are merely giving effect to policies outside of their control, would be treated with respect at all times and that they would also be free in particular from physical threats or acts of intimidation,” she added.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Threats have been made to Department of Agriculture staff on multiple occasions, with the gardaí informed of this intimidating behaviour.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Independent TD Carol Nolan, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue confirmed that Department staff had been threatened verbally, physically and in writing.
“I wish to inform the deputy that my Department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána on a number of occasions from 2020 to date due to verbal, written and physical threats being addressed to staff working within this Department during the course of carrying out their duties.
“The assistance of An Garda Síochána in relation to these matters is greatly appreciated as we ensure that we have a safe place of work for our staff,” the minister said.
Unacceptable
Commenting on the Minister for Agriculture’s revelation, Nolan said regardless of the policies implemented by the Department, no reaction to these should require garda intervention.
“It is totally unacceptable for that sense of disagreement to cross the threshold whereby the intervention of the gardaí is then required. I would hope that departmental staff, the vast majority of whom are merely giving effect to policies outside of their control, would be treated with respect at all times and that they would also be free in particular from physical threats or acts of intimidation,” she added.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS