Carthy calls for minister to intervene on mart restrictions

A local TD has called for the minister for agriculture to rethink the restrictions on marts under Level 5.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy TD has said that an urgent resolution to the curtailment of the operation of marts is required.

Marts can continue to operate with online sales. However the IFA spoke out on Saturday after a number of online sales went down. Cavan Mart also had to call off last Friday's livestock sale as the mart isn't set up for online sales, and manager Gerry Murray branded the restrictions as "unworkable".

“The only aspect of food production activity that is currently operating under severe restriction is the only aspect in which farmers have any semblance of control - in marts," said Deputy Carthy. "The restrictions have prevented activity at marts to such an extent that it is having an impact on the prices that farmers are receiving and the issue needs to be addressed urgently.

Deputy Carthy accepted public health advice "is paramount and must be respected". However he asserted that to to severely restrict the operation of marts "exposes a lack of understanding of how the sector works".

He noted the drawbacks for some marts in operating “online sales" and proceeded to compare how marts have been dealt with as opposed to meat factories.

“Farmers have been comparing the situation that they have found themselves in - which has seen the curtailment of a vital component of their market - with the situation in meat plants which have operated with little restrictions; despite being the source of multiple Covid-19 outbreaks. Throughout the pandemic it has appeared that there have been no lengths to which the government will not go to ensure that factories could remain open."

Deputy Carthy insists that a solution needs to be found this week that will allow some buyers around mart rings.

"Everyone accepts that some restrictions will remain and that public health measures will need to be strictly implemented. But even within those parameters there must be a solution to the currently unsustainable situation.”