Vol. 568 No. 2
135 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress which has been made to try to resolve the current dispute within his Department; the number of herd owners who are currently waiting on the release of their cattle cards from his Department, giving details on a county basis; and if he intends to intervene in this matter in view of the hardship it is causing to farmers. [16109/03]
I am aware, and I regret, that some farmers are being inconvenienced as a result of this dispute. However, because of the nature of the dispute whereby post is not being opened and in some instances not being delivered by An Post, it is impossible to quantify the number of farmers affected. My Department officials met the CPSU on a number of occasions and discussed a number of issues arising from the dispute.
The National Implementation Body which is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the stability and peace provisions of the Sustaining Progress agreement met on 5 June to discuss the dispute. Officials from the Department and the CPSU set out their respective positions to the NIB. The NIB is maintaining contact with both sides.
