5% wage cut for veterinary inspectors in meat plants

Long standing proposals to reduce the cost of post-mortem checks in meat factories by replacing vets with technicians have been shelved by the Department of Agriculture.

A recent statement from the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer to staff said, “The minister will not proceed at this time with the planned deployment on a pilot programme of 12 departmental technical staff on post-mortem inspection. In the light of the decision not to proceed at this time with auxiliary deployment, the minister proposes to introduce a temporary rate cut of 5%, reducing the gross hourly rate (paid to the temporary veterinary inspectors) from €67.88 to €64.49.

The fees and associated payments payable to part-time temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) for meat inspection will be reduced after a statutory consultation process. Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has already consulted with Veterinary Ireland, the union for vets in Ireland, and has invited written submissions up to Jun 13 from other interested parties to assist in his deliberations on the fees.