In this issue
Your voice, your vote
Pay talks enter second week
IMPACT opposes closure of regional laboratories
Minister to launch IMPACT report on low carbon economy
Gender Pay Gap Reporting Bill passes second stage
IMPACT publishes lobbying details
IMPACT opposes closure of regional laboratories
by Niall Shanahan
 

IMPACT and a number of agricultural representative bodies, including the IFA, have raised concerns that Ireland’s strong record of disease control and monitoring is at risk of compromise by the potential closure of regional veterinary laboratories in Sligo, Limerick and Kilkenny.

IMPACT national secretary Andy Pike said the union is seeking consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed TD, on the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed rationalisation of the labs. Andy explained, “There are five laboratories currently providing a disease diagnostic service to support the farming community and local private veterinary practitioners. These are at the forefront of minimising animal disease through various government and EU disease eradication schemes.

“The laboratories are strategically located - in Sligo, Athlone, Limerick, Kilkenny and Cork - in order to make them reasonably accessible to the farming sector nationwide, minimising the transport distance for lab samples and animals sent for post-mortem examination.”

A 2016 review by the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine (DAFM) has proposed the closure of three of the regional laboratories, and expanding facilities in Athlone and Cork. Andy explained, “The proposed model is based on the system used in Belgium, which the Department’s review team wants to replicate.

“However, the centralised model in Belgium is facilitated by a much smaller geographical area, as well as a significant motorway infrastructure. IMPACT will be making the case to the DAFM that the transfer of work to the central lab in Backweston, in Kildare, will not solve the problems they've highlighted.

“Taking the northwest region as an example, if the Sligo lab were to close, it would increase the transport distances for farmers and vets in Sligo, Donegal and Mayo very significantly if they're to send samples and animals to Athlone. This would also extend the waiting period to complete effective post-mortem examinations. Ireland has a particularly strong reputation for disease control and containment, and this would be compromised by the proposed new system,” he said.

He said IMPACT will make the case for modest investment in the infrastructure of the regional labs. "We believe these can be brought up to standard for far less than the estimates put forward by the DAFM."

Brexit

Andy said that, in addition to the knock-on effect of significant regional job losses in the event of three lab closures, there are serious concerns throughout the agricultural sector about the effects of Brexit on the regulatory environment in Northern Ireland. “While Brexit has already been identified as a significant threat to the industry, the consequences of a reduced animal disease surveillance system and diagnostic service could be catastrophic.

“The post-Brexit regulatory environment that’s likely to apply in Northern Ireland is expected to be less rigorous than the existing EU regulatory environment. This exposes the Republic of Ireland to increased animal disease threats,” he said.

Political support for the retention and investment in the existing network has emerged. MEP Mairead McGuinness (FG) has said there’s a case to be made for further investment in Ireland's Regional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL) structure. “Instead of cutting services, more investment may be called for across the system of regional laboratories. These issues must be taken into account in the review, which cannot be about cold cost cutting and closure of laboratories.

Ms McGuinness added, “Given the extensive area which Sligo RVL currently provides services to, and impending Brexit negotiations on the horizon which may have implications for animal health, animal movements and disease control, it is very important that this local laboratory is maintained.”

Independent MEP Marian Harkin said,“The proposal to close Regional Veterinary Laboratories, and to centralise services elsewhere, is flying in the face of good animal health practice." Sinn Féin's spokesperson on agriculture Martin Kenny said the centralisation of lab services was contrary to the Government's own policies on rural economic development.

Andy said IMPACT has already raised the potential problems flowing from Brexit affecting the agri-food sector. "We will continue to highlight the need for more resources for local services to deal with the changed regulatory and economic environment when the UK leaves the EU, and we'll be briefing TDs on this issue over the coming months."

LikeLike (4) | Facebook Twitter LinkedIn