Vets in Ireland have voted to accept a deal that spells an end to the moratorium on recruitment to the temporary veterinary inspector (TVI) panel, while also increasing the pay level by €10/hour.

It was passed by a majority in a postal ballot carried out by Veterinary Ireland (VI).

Implementation

"The agreement was accepted in the ballot and we advised the Department accordingly on Friday," said VI CEO Finbarr Murphy.

"We are meeting with the Department on Wednesday week to progress the implementation of it.

"One of the things from the dispute was that the panels had been closed, so they will be re-opened and we are discussing the recruitment of new vets."

The deal also ends a long-running litigation case taken by Veterinary Ireland on behalf of five vets who were employed by the now-closed Galtee Meats in Co Cork.

Mediation

The vets reached a deal with the Department of Agriculture through mediation talks last November.

However, when the Department pulled out of the deal before Christmas, some vets declined to work extra shifts in the factories, causing kill lines to close.

This action ended when a new deal was reached on 14 January 2019 and meat inspections continued in accordance with current operational arrangements.

Vets v Department of Agriculture: what’s the row about?

Veterinary Ireland members accept deal that ends recruitment moratorium

Veterinary Ireland members voted on the deal between vets and the Department of Agriculture, which resolves the dispute around meat factory shifts.