Walsh rejects claim of food risk to public health
The Civil and Public Services Union said the integrity of the food chain and the health of the consumer were at risk after Mr Walsh suspended cattle slaughter permit regulations in Kerry, Galway, Limerick and Mayo.
The union’s assistant general secretary Kevin Gaughren said the suspension means key checks with regard to ownership, registration, disease status and passport identity are no longer being carried out in the counties.
Mr Walsh is therefore unable to fully guarantee the integrity of the food chain, with potentially damaging consequences for the Irish beef consumer, Mr Gaughren said.
But a spokesman for the minister rejected suggestions that this was putting the food chain at risk.
The spokesman said the temporary derogation has the approval of the Food Safety Authority.
The department previously said it did not accept that the union had any valid basis for industrial action and contended that it was contrary to the social partnership agreements.
Staff, who had not been dealing with telephone and fax queries at countrywide offices, regionalised their dispute two weeks ago on a rota basis by withdrawing from counter services in the afternoon.
Some 150 CPSU members in offices in Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo were suspended without pay and the CPSU responded by placing official pickets on offices in Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.
IFA president John Dillon yesterday called on both sides to find a solution to the dispute.
He also asked Department officials to withdraw their industrial action and resume normal service so talks can get under way.
ICMSA beef and cattle committee chairperson John O’Leary said local abattoirs were facing shut-down as slaughtering was being badly affected due to delays with documentation.
Labour spokesperson on agriculture Dr Mary Upton said consumers as well as farmers were being affected. Mr Walsh should engage in meaningful discussions with the CPSU to resolve the dispute, she added.
