The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) is in talks with the Department of Agriculture to find a solution to reopen marts, after An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced their immediate closure until 19 April due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While the public health of the nation is the main priority, the news was a hammer blow to the farming community. April and May are traditionally the busiest times of year for marts, seeing the trade of up to 500,000 animals.

ICOS environment and livestock executive Ray Doyle said the move was extremely disappointing, given that many marts had put in a huge effort to observe social distancing guidelines.

ICOS has put forward a submission to the Department that centres on a “drop and go” system.

“Farmers would stay in their vehicles and drop their livestock off at marts,” Doyle explained.

“Buyers would have to pre-register and an offer for animals would have to be accepted over the phone by the farmer.

“The farmer would be given an indication of how much per kilo they could expect to receive by the auctioneer.

“At all times, the stock would be loaded and unloaded by mart staff.”

Doyle pointed out that the trade of animals was also a welfare, as well as an economic, issue for farms.

IFA president Tim Cullinan insisted that safe trading arrangements could be put in place utilising marts’ weighing facilities and contacts.

A similar mart matchmaking-type service between buyers and sellers was proposed by ICMSA president Pat McCormack. With many farmers now faced with selling stock from home, the ICSA warned them to be conscious of the risk of cheques bouncing.

Speaking to RTÉ, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said that he hoped to have greater clarity on how marts could facilitate trade by the end of the week.

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