Ulster Farmers' Union Demands Resignation of Agriculture Minister Over Cattle Cull

The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has sparked controversy by demanding the resignation of Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir over the handling of a cattle cull in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone.

The UFU claims that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) did not properly consider alternative options before shooting and killing the 51 cattle, which were owned by a farmer who had been disqualified from keeping animals for life due to animal welfare offences.

However, Minister Muir has insisted that Daera had "no choice" but to cull the animals, and has hit back at those calling for his resignation, saying that "the days of the Ulster Farmers' Union dictating government policy are over".

The UFU's demand for Muir's resignation is not motivated by personal animosity, according to UFU President John McLenaghan, who stated that the dispute is "not about personalities".

## The Cull and the Controversy

The cattle cull took place on 29 and 30 June, after a court order to remove the animals from the farmer's ownership was not complied with. The UFU has expressed shock over the cull, asking whether every possible alternative was properly considered before the animals were killed.

The cull was carried out by Daera's humane slaughter team, but some of the shootings took place within earshot of members of the public, causing distress.

The UFU has requested an independent panel of experts to examine the circumstances of the cull, but Minister Muir has appointed a single person, Dr Martin Blake, a former Chief Veterinary Officer for Ireland, to lead the review.

## The Review and the UFU's Demands

The review is expected to report by early autumn, but the UFU has expressed concerns that the single-person review may not be thorough enough, and has called for a larger panel of experts to be appointed.

UFU President John McLenaghan has rejected claims that the union is trying to dictate Daera policies, pointing out that the UFU has a long history of working with governments and competent authorities to help farmers and the industry.

The UFU's demand for Minister Muir's resignation is based on the handling of the cattle cull, and not on personal animosity, according to McLenaghan.

## Alliance Response

Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson has claimed that the UFU's call for Muir's resignation is motivated by the fact that the minister is not beholden to vested interests, and that the review needs to be carried out quickly to avoid delays.

However, McLenaghan has argued that a larger panel of experts could share the workload and complete the review faster.

The controversy surrounding the cattle cull and the UFU's demand for Minister Muir's resignation continues to unfold, with both sides presenting their arguments and concerns.

| Minister | UFU's Request | Actual Appointee | | --- | --- | --- | | Single person | Independent panel of experts | Dr Martin Blake, former Chief Veterinary Officer for Ireland | | | | |

The review into the cattle cull is expected to provide clear answers to the public, but the controversy surrounding the handling of the cull continues to raise questions about the role of the Ulster Farmers' Union and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.