Meat factory bosses have condemned what they call “unacceptable disruption” to their business due to industrial action by temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs).
As reported by the Irish Farmers Journal, TVIs began a work-to-rule before Christmas, causing the cancellation and disruption of killing in some of the country’s largest beef and sheep plants.
Factory bosses say that their plants have been restricted, with animal deliveries turned away or cancelled over the past fortnight.
Major disruption
“There has been a serious intensification of disruptive activity over the last fortnight, in this dispute between Veterinary Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While processors are not involved in this dispute, they are nonetheless caught in the middle,” said Cormac Healy, spokesman for Meat Industry Ireland (MII) on Friday.
“Some plants are facing major disruption, leading to significant losses for these businesses. Plants have been unable to undertake scheduled processing activity and others are forced to operate at restricted levels compared to normal throughput,” Healy added.
“Animal deliveries have had to be turned back or cancelled, impacting on farmers as well.”
Welfare
Pig farmers are most acutely affected by any delays to slaughtering, with high stock numbers on farms.
Healy warned that disruption to normal pig processing would very quickly lead to welfare issues at farm level.
“This unacceptable disruptive activity has also left customers short during what is already a challenging time of the year for scheduling fresh deliveries,” said Healy.
The row
The dispute centres on a long-running row about the employment status of TVIs in factories, as reported by the Irish Farmers Journal. TVI work is worth around €13m to vets every year.
Resolution
The MII spokesman called for a “a responsible approach” to be adopted and “an immediate end to unacceptable disruption to normal processing operations”.
“This is impacting on the businesses caught in the middle, their staff, farmer suppliers and customers. We need both parties [Veterinary Ireland and the Department of Agriculture] at the table immediately to resolve this issue.”
Read more
Factories call for halt to vet stand-off
Vets still pursuing Department in 12-year Galtee row
Vets want more temporary factory and border inspection contracts
Meat factory bosses have condemned what they call “unacceptable disruption” to their business due to industrial action by temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs).
As reported by the Irish Farmers Journal, TVIs began a work-to-rule before Christmas, causing the cancellation and disruption of killing in some of the country’s largest beef and sheep plants.
Factory bosses say that their plants have been restricted, with animal deliveries turned away or cancelled over the past fortnight.
Major disruption
“There has been a serious intensification of disruptive activity over the last fortnight, in this dispute between Veterinary Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While processors are not involved in this dispute, they are nonetheless caught in the middle,” said Cormac Healy, spokesman for Meat Industry Ireland (MII) on Friday.
“Some plants are facing major disruption, leading to significant losses for these businesses. Plants have been unable to undertake scheduled processing activity and others are forced to operate at restricted levels compared to normal throughput,” Healy added.
“Animal deliveries have had to be turned back or cancelled, impacting on farmers as well.”
Welfare
Pig farmers are most acutely affected by any delays to slaughtering, with high stock numbers on farms.
Healy warned that disruption to normal pig processing would very quickly lead to welfare issues at farm level.
“This unacceptable disruptive activity has also left customers short during what is already a challenging time of the year for scheduling fresh deliveries,” said Healy.
The row
The dispute centres on a long-running row about the employment status of TVIs in factories, as reported by the Irish Farmers Journal. TVI work is worth around €13m to vets every year.
Resolution
The MII spokesman called for a “a responsible approach” to be adopted and “an immediate end to unacceptable disruption to normal processing operations”.
“This is impacting on the businesses caught in the middle, their staff, farmer suppliers and customers. We need both parties [Veterinary Ireland and the Department of Agriculture] at the table immediately to resolve this issue.”
Read more
Factories call for halt to vet stand-off
Vets still pursuing Department in 12-year Galtee row
Vets want more temporary factory and border inspection contracts
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