Fórsa representatives are to participate with the agriculture department officials in a working group to concerns over the proposed transfer of local authority veterinary staff to the civil service.

This was agreed at a recent meeting between the union’s veterinary inspector representatives, agriculture department officials, and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which represents council employers.

Meanwhile, the LGMA is to write to all local authorities to seek information on the individual veterinary inspectors’ terms and conditions of employment.

Fórsa has previously received LGMA plans on the proposal, but the union said any transfer could have implications for members’ employment conditions.

The union’s head of local government, Dessie Robinson, told the vets that the union would remain vigilant at all times to ensure that any new arrangements agreed do not erode their conditions of employment.

Local authority vets provide food safety controls, including inspection of all animals before and after slaughter, at around 600 food businesses that supply meats to retailers and establishments including nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and canteens.

They also support small-scale and artisan businesses, which contribute to local economies and underpin employment in farming and the agri-food sector. As well as regulating the sector, the vet service supports mentoring, support and training in the sector.