Fórsa is opposing plans for local authority vets to be compulsorily transferred to the Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) against their wishes.

The vets, who inspect various small abattoirs including craft butchers and artisan food producers under a service-level agreement, have fallen victim to a row between the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and FSAI over funding inspections.

Fόrsa has learned that CCMA told the FSAI to take over the employment of the vets.

Fόrsa’s head of local government, Peter Nolan, criticised the way the 30-plus vets found out about the development and the absence of any consultation with them or their union.

In a letter to the Local Government Management Agency, which represents local authority employers, he called for an immediate withdrawal of the proposal and said any dispute over the move would involve all local authority staff.

“It’s grossly unfair that our members have become the meat in the sandwich in a dispute between two public bodies. Fόrsa believes every local government worker will be opposed to the shabby treatment of their colleagues,” he said.

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