Delvin Mart in Co Westmeath is in talks with the Department of Agriculture to have its trading licence returned after it was suspended due to breaches of the COVID-19 protocol for sales.

Last Thursday’s sale of cattle, calves and sheep was cancelled and there will be no sales until further notice.

Auctioneer Thomas Potterton said that he and mart manager John Gilligan met with Department officials on Wednesday and they are hopeful of an early resolution.

It is understood that Department officials were not happy with the number of people in the penning and lairage areas at the mart two weeks ago, as well as the incorrect wearing of masks by both staff and patrons of the mart.

Potterton said the mart has undertaken to appoint a COVID-19 officer, whose sole duty will be to strictly enforce the 2m social distancing and to ensure that the mart lairage and penning area is vacated before the sale starts.

“We are treating this very seriously and intend to address the issues immediately, so we hope to deal with the Department amicably,” said the auctioneer.

Delvin Mart handles around 400 cattle, up to 300 calves and up to 600 sheep every Thursday.

Mart variation

There have been reports that the application of the COVID-19 rules between marts varies widely.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that one mart in the southwest has been accused of brazenly flouting the ban on buyers in the ring, allowing buyers to gather in areas not visible to cameras.

Another mart in the south was ordered to close its canteen, which had been opened to cater for staff only.

Crackdown

A crackdown by Department of Agriculture officials in the southwest last week saw marts ordered to police the social distancing requirement among farmers in their car parks.

Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society (ICOS) livestock executive Ray Doyle said that ICOS marts were striving for 100% compliance with COVID-19 regulations and it was disappointing that some marts were flouting the rules.

“I applaud this action by the Department of Agriculture. This has gone on for too long, where the rules are not administered even-handedly across all marts,” Doyle said, calling for a level playing field for all marts.