Permits handed out to farmers who had threatened to shoot diseased animals at IFA protest in Galway.
Angry farmers who had threatened to shoot diseased animals outside the Department of Agriculture and Food offices in Galway city yesterday did not do so when it emerged that the dispute preventing the sale of their animals was about to end.
Hundreds of farmers who have not been able to move their stock because of lack of documentation as a result of the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) dispute with the Department were told that the strike was "almost over".
Mr Michael Silke, chairman of Galway County IFA, who informed the angry crowd that he had been prepared to shoot cattle if the matter was not resolved, said that the IFA president, Mr John Dillon, had been told by the Department of the Taoiseach to expect a return to work today.
A total of 260 members of the CPSU from offices in Mayo, Galway, Limerick and Kerry were balloting on terms to settle the 12-week dispute as the protest continued. Proof of the settlement came in the early afternoon when the farmers who had been protesting went into the Galway offices and were given permits and cards to enable them to move their animals.
Mr Frank Forde, from Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway, said that the dispute had cost him €45,000 because he could not sell stock from his land.
"My herd had been locked up because one animal failed a bovine TB test, but then I got the all-clear on April 5th last. I could not, however, get the documentation to move the cattle and I have spent a fortune feeding them and lost a lot because I could not sell at the right time," he said.
Mr Forde, who had received a promise that he would get his cards when the IFA occupied the offices in Galway six weeks ago, eventually got the cards yesterday.
Among those who received their cards were two other Galway farmers, Mr P.J. Coneely and Mr Martin Noone, who had brought an unsuccessful High Court action to direct the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, to issue the disputed documentation to the farmers. They were carried shoulder high along St Augustine Street when they eventually emerged with the documentation they needed so badly.
Over 1,000 farmers and thousands of head of cattle were caught up in the dispute which, according to one of yesterday's speakers, Mr John Stack, could result in the spread of TB and brucellosis throughout the affected counties.
Mr Stack, who is chairman of the IFA's Animal Health Committee, accused the Minister of risking not only the lives of cattle but farm families as well by not having the necessary documentation issued to move cattle which had failed bovine TB and brucellosis tests.
"It was totally irresponsible of the Minister not to intervene. If there are outbreaks of these diseases, he is to blame," Mr Stack said.
The CPSU workers had been seeking better promotional opportunities in regional offices. When they refused to carry out instructions, they were taken off the payroll.