Political pressure mounts to resolve Department of Agriculture dispute

POLITICAL pressure is mounting to have the 10-week-old dispute at local offices of the Department of Agriculture and Food resolved.

Civil and Public Service Union members have been picketing offices in Galway, Mayo, Kerry, Limerick and at Clonakilty, Co Cork, in the row over opportunities for promotion. The dispute has led to 263 staff being removed from the department’s payroll and farming activities being disrupted. Both parties have met and discussed a number of issues, but no formula for resolving the dispute has emerged.

Fourteen CPSU members from the Clonakilty office have also issued legal proceedings against the Minister for Agriculture and Food seeking a judicial review of the removal of the staff. The case was heard in the High Court on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Judgment has been reserved.