S.I. No. 655/2025 - Registered Employment Agreement (Veterinary Ireland) Variation Order 2025

1. SOP 15, Appendix 1, shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Terms of Engagement of LT-TVIs under Section 3 of the Collective Agreement and to the SOPs under this Appendix 2.

GIVEN under my hand,

18 December 2025

ALAN DILLON,

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(

This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.

)

The purpose of this Order is to set out the agreed Terms and Conditions from 23 April 2019 to apply to all Temporary Veterinary Inspectors and from 1 August 2025 for all Low Throughput Temporary Veterinary Inspectors engaged by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

1 Determination that a premises is permanently closed will be concluded [12 months] after the cessation of slaughter.

2 ‘Working day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday

2. On that basis, LT-TVIs shall co-operate fully with all requirements of DAFM set down in these Conditions of Engagement and associated SOPs regarding attendance and punctuality, reporting, record keeping, relevant inspection/sampling protocols, attendance at relevant seminars, or information meetings, and training, including online training.

3. To ensure efficient and effective meat inspection services, DAFM will, from time to time, initiate reviews and implement changes to take account of developments in technology, legislation, and changes in ante-mortem and post-mortem processes, including delayed post-mortem.

4. LT-TVIs will be kept advised of these changes with appropriate consultation with Veterinary Ireland as necessary and will co-operate fully with them. Having regard to the impact such changes may have on the current practices and procedures dealing with ante-mortem and post-mortem, including delayed post-mortem, DAFM will provide a clear basis and rationale for any changes proposed.

21 July 2025

SOP 12. A meat plant coming under the remit of a high throughput meat plant

Where a meat plant transfers from being a LT meat plant to a high through put system to which a derogation under Article 13 of EU Regulation 2019/627 no longer applies, SOP 12, Appendix 1, will apply.

21 July 2025

SOP 13. Dispute Resolution Procedure

5. In the event of dispute or grievance between the DAFM staff and a LT-TVI, or group of LT-TVIs, on any matter being apparent, the following procedure will apply

Stage 1

The matter in dispute will be discussed by the LT-TVI, or LT-TVIs, concerned, with the DAFM-VI.

Stage 2

Failing settlement, the matter will be discussed between the LT-TVI, the DAFM-VI and/or SVI, and the Veterinary Ireland representative, with a decision given within two working days.

Stage 3

Should the parties fail to agree, the matter will be referred to more senior DAFM management. A meeting will be held within seven working days. Representatives from both DAFM and Veterinary Ireland may be in attendance. If a resolution is agreed, the decision will be confirmed within one working week.

Stage 4

Should the matter remain unresolved, it will be referred to an independent mediator whose decision shall be final.

During the period in which the above procedure is being followed normal meat inspection service will be provided.

In the event of any issues arising which cannot immediately be disposed of, and which are being processed in accordance with the above grievance procedure, normal working - under protest if necessary - will continue, pending a settlement.

21 July 2025

SOP 11. Dealing with legislative, technological or industry change

6. Inappropriate and un-professional behaviour towards any DAFM staff, factory employees or other LT-TVIs;

7. Use of mobile phones or personal audio equipment while providing meat inspection service;

8. Material breaches of confidentiality in respect of any DAFM/FBO business carried out on site;

9. Significant failure to comply with DAFM’s Data Protection Policy.

10. Removal of DAFM or FBO documents or taking a copy of such documents.

11. Removal of product or tissue without approval.

12. Removal of DAFM clothing or equipment from a premises without approval.

21 July 2025

SOP10A LT-TVI - Complaints/Appeals Procedure

13. Transfers

14. Dispute Resolution Procedure

It is the intention of all parties that this collective agreement will promote harmonious relations and avoid disputes and disruption to the meat inspection service.

All parties are obliged to fully comply with the terms of this Dispute Resolution procedure.

If a dispute should occur between the parties to this agreement, neither party shall engage in a lock-out, or any other form of service disruption, until all of the following procedures have been complied with and the Labour Court has issued a recommendation on the dispute

• All disputes that do not involve matters of interpretation of this agreement which are not resolved at local level by engagement between the parties shall be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission for resolution.

• Where the Workplace Relations Commission fails to resolve the matter the issue shall be referred to the Labour Court.

• No TVI may initiate service disruption until after the rejection of a Labour Court recommendation and then only after the expiry of at least 14 days written notice to DAFM by Veterinary Ireland. All procedures set out in this rule must be exhausted before any action causing service disruption is undertaken.

No stoppage of work, go slow or lock out shall take place in regard to any issue arising from the interpretation of this collective agreement. Should a dispute arise in relation to the interpretation of any part of the collective agreement the matter will be referred to the Labour Court for resolution and binding decision in accordance with

section 12

of the

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015

.

15. Termination/Cancellation of Collective Agreement

This Agreement will remain in place until and unless all parties to the agreement agree to change its terms. Should all parties to the agreement agree to terminate the Agreement they will advise the Labour Court and give six (6) months’ notice in writing of the decision to terminate.

8 April 2019

APPENDIX 2 - TABLE OF SOPs

SOP 1

On the formation of a mechanism for the provision of ante mortem and post-mortem services for LT meat plants

SOP 2

Sourcing, training and adding new LT-TVIs

SOP 3

The duration and operation of assigned duties

SOP 4

Payment for attendance at meetings and training

SOP 5

An LT-TVI seeking a specific change to existing work pattern, including absences / temporarily withdrawing

SOP 6

On the cessation of slaughter at a LT meat plant

SOP 7

Health and Safety

SOP 8

Assessment of performance

SOP 9

Fitness Assessment/Capacity

SOP 10

Non-Compliance Procedures

SOP 10A

LT-TVI - Complaints/Appeals Procedure

SOP 11

Dealing with legislative, technological or industry change

SOP 12

A meat plant coming under the remit of a high throughput meat plant

SOP 13

Dispute Resolution Procedure

SOP 14

Termination/Cancellation of Collective Agreement

21 July 2025

SOP 1. On the formation of a mechanism for the provision of ante mortem and post-mortem services for LT meat plants

16. LT-TVIs currently engaged by DAFM, or as the case may be, a Local Authority

a) For one meat plant panel under Sections 1 and 2 and also assigned to a LT meat plant, and/or

b) For more than one LT-meat plant

—will be given the opportunity to continue these engagements providing that the services can be fulfilled without interference with either set of duties.

The LT-TVIs order on any panel under Sections 1 and 2, on which they choose to remain will not be adversely affected.

17. DAFM agrees that sufficient number of LT-TVIs will be engaged for each LT meat plant and will ensure that, in general, no LT-TVI will be asked to double their duties on a given day (except in the case of urgent requirement as determined by the DAFM-VI).

18. DAFM and Veterinary Ireland agree that these Conditions of Engagement under Section 3 record the overarching relationship between the DAFM and LT-TVIs, and that it will be supported by such Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs - Appendix 2) as are required to document the processes to be followed in the fulfilment of that relationship.

19. An upper age limit of 70 shall apply to engagement for LT-TVI work by DAFM, save and except for those Private Veterinary Practitioners engaged by a Local Authority, as a Local Authority Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (LATVI), on the 31 December 2024.

20. For the avoidance of doubt, all or any representations, conditions, terms, schemes and/or undertakings, express or implied, whether by statute, common law, custom, course of dealings or otherwise, provided to a LT-TVI, by or on behalf of a local authority, during the currency of the LT-TVI’s prior engagement with a local authority, including any pension/lump sum entitlements, non-pensionable gratuity, howsoever described, before 1 January 2025,

—that are not expressly provided in these Conditions of Engagement, under Section 3, and/or associated SOPs in Appendix 2, of this Collective Agreement, shall not apply to any agreement for engagement of an LT-TVI, by DAFM, at an LT meat plant, and DAFM shall bear no liability for same.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, any such arrangements are strictly a matter for the relevant local authority and the individual LT-TVI.

21. DAFM and Veterinary Ireland agree to submit these Conditions of Engagement, comprised in this Section 3, including the associated SOPs in Appendix 2, to the Labour Court as an assurance that this is the mechanism by which it intends to continue to engage LT-TVIs for the purposes outlined above.

LT-TVI fee

22. Having regard to the distinct nature of meat inspections services at LT meat plants, including delayed post-mortem, and the diverse scale and frequency of operations between individual LT meat plants,

DAFM and Veterinary Ireland

agree that

a) The minimum rate payable for duties performed at LT meat plants will be commensurate with 1/780th of the first point of the non-PPC Veterinary Inspector scale and will be revised in line with any changes to the VI scale.

The table below represents minimum fees payable that can be applied to duties performed by LT-TVI’s in LT meat plants.

Slaughter days

Description of duties

Minimum fee (rate applied from 01/08/25)

Rate per slaughter day,

e.g. wild game

No ante-mortem visit and post-mortem visit only

€93.84

Rate per slaughter day

1 ante-mortem visit and 1 post-mortem or delayed post-mortem visit

€187.68

Rate for two consecutive slaughter days at the same establishment.

Add rate for singular slaughter day for each additional consecutive day.

1 ante-mortem and 1 combined ante-mortem/delayed post-mortem visit and 1 delayed post-mortem visit

€281.52

Rate where more than one slaughter plant visited per day

Rate decided on a case-by-case basis

Poultry plant

Rate decided on a case-by-case basis

b) Without prejudice to the minimum rates agreed in Paragraph (a), DAFM may raise applicable rates on a case-by-case basis, specific to the requirements of individual LT-meat plants.

c) In all cases, the applicable rate will be outlined in each offer of engagement as an LT-TVI, made by DAFM, for assignment to the LT meat plant(s) concerned.

d) The rates outlined in offers of engagement are subject to review, up, or down to minimum rate, in the event of material change(s) to operations at a particular LT meat plant, including, but not limited to, a necessity to increase/decrease slaughter days owing to variation in levels of throughput.

23. The rates of payment provided under Paragraph 22, and payment of same, are made strictly on the basis that the DAFM is not liable for any form of paid absence, and that all other entitlements available to LT-TVIs, including pension, sick pay, disability, maternity or paternity benefits are solely available through their social welfare contributions, as provided for through deductions from their fee income.

Signed on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

_____________________________

Signed on behalf of Veterinary Ireland

_____________________________

21 July 2025

APPENDIX 1 - TABLE OF SOPS

Name

1

On the formation and updating of Panels in light of new arrangements

2

On the process for sourcing, training and adding new panellists to existing TVI panels

3

On the duration and operation of shifts

4

On payment for attendance for meetings and training

5

A TVI seeking a specific change to existing work pattern, including temporarily withdrawing from the panel

6

On the cessation of slaughter at a meat plant

7

On health and safety

8

On assessment of performance

9

On Fitness Assessment/Capacity

10

On non-compliance procedures

10A

TVI- Complaints/Appeals Procedure

11

On dealing with legislative, technical or industry change

12

On a meat plant coming under the supervisory remit of DAFM for the first time

13

On transfers

13 January 2019

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of

2

nd January,

2026.

WHEREAS I, ALAN DILLON, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, being in receipt of a variation order made by the

Labour Court to vary the Registered Employment Agreement between the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine and Veterinary Ireland and forwarded to me under subsection (11) (inserted by section 6 of the Industrial Relations Amendment Act 2012

(No.32 of 2012)) of

section 28

of the

Industrial Relations Act 1946

(No.26 of 1946) and being satisfied that the said

section 28

has been complied with and considering it appropriate to do so

NOW, I, ALAN DILLON, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by subsection (11) (inserted by section 6 of the

Industrial Relations Amendment Act 2012

(No.32 of 2012)) of

section 28

of the

Industrial Relations Act 1946

(No.26 of 1946) (as adapted by the Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2025 (

S.I. No. 172 of 2025

) and the Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2025 (

S.I. No. 240 of 2025

) hereby order as follows