Marts across the country have taken varying decisions about whether to close or remain open.

Some have closed for the foreseeable future, while others are remaining open, albeit with strict new rules in place.

Both options are the right decision for the marts in question, ICOS livestock executive Ray Doyle has said.

“The only bad decision is no decision,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal on Monday.

“Where marts have closed, it is because they felt they could not comply fully and safely with the social distancing HSE guidelines. They are making decisions based on their buyers, sellers and staff.

“The marts that are still open are doing so because they want to facilitate trade for their customers and are in a position to do so while complying with all the guidelines,” said Doyle.

Difficult position

Highlighting the difficult position that some mart managers are finding themselves in, Doyle said some managers have been criticised for closing, while others are criticised for remaining open.

We’ve had wives and daughters of older customers abusing mart managers for staying open

“We’ve had wives and daughters of older customers abusing mart managers for staying open.

“But there is a personal responsibility here – ICOS has said that unless you have business in the mart and abide by the HSE and Government guidelines, you should not be there.”

“We are not forcing anyone to go to the mart.”

Staff concerns for safety are also a factor for many mart managers.

Societal change

On a positive note, ICOS is reporting a significant change in the attitude of mart-goers to the HSE guidelines.

Where last week some patrons were scoffing at the rules and blackguarding about social distancing, this has improved a lot in recent days, Doyle said.

If trade is to continue, then we all need to do the right thing

“It has been much better,” he said. “We are all in this together and if trade is to continue, then we all need to do the right thing.

“The mart system is the most transparent way to value livestock and, without that, there is no true way of valuing anything. We saw that during the foot and mouth closures – within a week of the marts re-opening, the price of stock went up 20%,” he said.

Future moves

The ICOS livestock executive said that unless Government policy changes, the marts that are open will continue to trade, while adhering to the HSE guidelines and changing usual practices.

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