Demand for answers and action from report on Tyrone cattle cull
An independent review into the culling of 51 cattle in Co. Tyrone in June must deliver answers, accountability and action, the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has said.
A report into the incident, which occurred near Fivemiletown, is expected to be published next week.
Ahead of the expected publication of the report, the UFU said that the report must be "robust, transparent and capable of commanding the confidence of farm families and the wider public" in Northern Ireland.
John McLenaghan, the UFU's president, said: "From the outset, the UFU has been clear that there must be full transparency and accountability surrounding the circumstances that led to the destruction of these cattle.
"Farmers and the wider rural community deserve clear answers and a complete understanding of how this incident occurred," McLenaghan added.
"The farming community has heard assurances that 'lessons will be learned', but such commitments mean little unless they result in meaningful change and accountability," he said.
According to the UFU president, confidence in Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has been significantly damaged by the Co. Tyrone incident.
"Rebuilding that trust will require full disclosure of the facts, compete transparency throughout the process and decisive action where mistakes or failings are identified," McLeneghan said.
He added: "Anything less risks undermining confidence across the agricultural sector and rural communities.
"Our farmers and growers are required to meet rigorous standards every day and face consequences when these standards are not met," the UFU president said.
"It is only right that the department is held to the same standard of accountability."
The UFU has said that the publication of the report must be a turning point.
"Farmers expect and deserve openness, accountability and action. If failing are identified, there must be clear measures put in place to prevent a recurrence," McLenaghan said.
"Restoring confidence will depend not on words, but on what happens next," he added.
The farm organisation has said it will scrutinise the report in detail and will continue to "demand full accountability, robust action and meaningful reform to ensure any failures are addressed and not repeated".
