Donegal ISPCA service and staff must have clarity and protection
Donegal ISPCA service and staff must have clarity and protection - The Labour Party
The Labour Party Spokesperson on Agriculture Rob O’Donoghue TD has expressed his deep concern at the ongoing situation within the Donegal ISPCA and has urged the Minister for Agriculture to intervene to ensure the protection of animal welfare and workers’ rights in the region.
Speaking today Deputy O’Donoghue, said:
“The uncertainty around the potential closure of the Donegal ISPCA Centre is greatly concerning for what the future holds for animal welfare protections in the region. Although this is under plans to centralise the DSPCA and IPSCA into one body, the National SPCA, there must be greater accountability for the impacts this will have on regional centres.
“A closure like this may mean an immediate stopping of care for the animals in the facility with no immediate remedy in sight, leaving animal welfare in the region in the lurch. This is not fair on anybody involved.
Also worrying is the news from SIPTU members that this closure would result in forced redundancies and denial of other workplace protections. I stand with the SIPTU members who are calling for action to ensure that the proper transfer of employment regulations are followed in order to give them security and peace of mind in this time of great stress.”
The IPSCA cannot act like a rogue employer while receiving massive increases in Government funding. You cannot play around with community services nor community workers.
I am calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, to intervene and ensure that the best solution is found to ensure that care continues for the animals concerned in the region and that the urgent clarity is given and legal obligations for the workers in the Donegal ISPCA are followed. We cannot lose both a vital community service and vital community workers in the region.”