Gardaí have been contacted on a “number of occasions” in relation to threats made against staff in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) by members of the public.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue confirmed that “verbal, written and physical threats” had been addressed to department staff during the course of carrying out their duties.
“The assistance of An Garda Síochána in relation to these matters is greatly appreciated as we ensure that we have a safe place of work for our staff,” he added.
Gardaí
In a parliamentary question, independent TD Carol Nolan asked if DAFM had contacted gardaí due to threats being made to staff or ministers, at any level, working within the department since 2020.
The Laois-Offaly said that there “can be no doubt that the agricultural policies implemented by government and subsequently by the department have infuriated people and even created a level of dismay among many people”.
However, Deputy Nolan stressed that “it is totally unacceptable for that sense of disagreement to cross the threshold whereby the intervention of the gardaí is then required”.
“I would hope that departmental staff, the vast majority of whom are merely giving effect to policies outside of their control would be treated with respect at all times and that they would also be free in particular from physical threats or acts of intimidation.
“Thankfully, the vast majority of people who interact with the department do so in a respectful and reasonable manner, despite the frustrations that often exist when dealing with such a bureaucratic system,” she said.
Last month, gardaí were called to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) annual general meeting (AGM) and conference in Co. Westmeath.
A group of farmers and contractors staged a protest at a hotel in Athlone and sought to confront Minister Charlie McConalogue who had earlier addressed the AGM.
The group said they were not representative of any farmer organisation and had come together to voice their “frustrations”.
At one stage one member of the protesters entered the conference room where the ICSA AGM was being held and shouted at the minister.