Vets say cutbacks must not undermine animal welfare

CUTBACKS must not jeopardise consumer confidence or animal health for short-term financial gain, veterinary bodies warned yesterday.

The Veterinary Officers’ Association (VOA), supported by Veterinary Ireland, called for a vibrant state veterinary service.

They warned that cutbacks must not undermine Ireland’s valuable reputation as a food island.

The VOA, which represents state vets and whose annual general meeting takes place today at Enfield, Co Meath, said the number of state vets has already been cut by 10% during 2009 and a further drop in numbers without replacement is continuing.

“VOA members will strive to ensure food and animal health and welfare standards are maintained.

“However, this quality of service cannot be maintained when the veterinary staff compliment falls below a critical level and therefore the VOA is calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to put arrangements in place to fill all further vacancies immediately,” it said.

The VOA said the food standards and disease control work of vets working for the state plays a vital role in protecting the health of people at home — and also in export markets.

It said state veterinarians are also vital in safeguarding animal welfare, helping to ensure that food-producing animals are well treated.

VOA president Jonathan Cooney said Ireland must ensure the state veterinary service retains sufficient capacity to protect the food chain and undertake animal disease and animal welfare surveillance.

“It must also ensure the service has the capacity to respond quickly to disease threats such as foot and mouth, and ensure that consumers can continue to have confidence in the standards of Irish food, both at home and abroad, so that our valuable reputation as a food island is protected,” he said.

Joe Collins, president, Veterinary Ireland, whose members work in private, state and local authority practice, said it strongly supports the call to maintain a vibrant state veterinary service, with sufficient numbers, expertise and resources.

This is needed to protect consumers and support the agri-food industry sector worth €8.2 billion in exports annually and providing 270 000 jobs in Ireland.

“We are greatly concerned both at the widespread closure of local veterinary offices (DVOs) and also at the serious and ongoing cutbacks in the numbers of staff in the state veterinary service,” he said.

Veterinary Ireland’s Local Authority Veterinary Group chairman Martin Bohan said food safety for consumers of Irish food at home and abroad has to be a top priority.