Members of the Civil, Public and Services Union (CPSU) who have been in dispute with the Department of Agriculture over promotional opportunities in regional offices have voted to return to work.
In a statement issued today the CPSU welcomed the settlement terms proposed by the National Implementation Body (NIB) and agreed to return to work tomorrow, because of concerns about animal health and welfare related issues.
Earlier today about 500 farmers converged on the Department's offices in Galway city today to protest over the dispute, which had left them unable to get permits to move stock from farms hit by bovine TB and brucellosis outbreaks.
A spokesman for the Irish Farmers' Association said about 1,100 farmers had been adversely affected by the 12-week dispute and have been forced to keep and feed stock that should have been moved off their farms months ago.
Connacht IFA vice-president Mr Brendan O'Mahony said farmers in Mayo, Cork, Kerry and Limerick as well as those in Galway faced grave difficulties as a result of the strike.
A meeting with between the CPSU and Agriculture Management is due to take place tomorrow to discuss implementation of the NIB proposals.