Mr. Conor O'Mahony:

The Cathaoirleach asked about valuers and people who were restricted in selling to classified finishers. Last year, there was a competitive process to appoint a panel of valuers, which all valuers entered into, in terms of specified rates for carrying out valuations. There has been a great deal of discussion between us and the valuers in recent months. The door is not closed on those discussions. From our point of view, they are still ongoing.

As to whether there is an independent mechanism for allowing farmers who are restricted to sell to classified finishing units, the short answer is “No”. For us to facilitate or put in place a formal mechanism for valuing those animals when they are not reactors would be for us to step into a potential contractual negotiation between a buyer and a seller. In recent weeks, however, we have facilitated online auctions through marts and software that was developed during Covid. As a live example, let us say that I am a farmer with forward store cattle that had passed the test but I am restricted from selling on the open market. If I contacted a mart with this facility, there would be a live virtual auction of my cattle on my farm. The controlled finished units could bid online. This is about trying to facilitate competition for a cohort of animals that are valuable on the open market. Previously, there may have been just one purchaser going in to buy the animals. Now, the sale is opened up to potentially more purchasers. Culled cows are excluded, as are calves. This service is new - it was only launched in the past couple of weeks - and came on foot of a request from the marts, which felt it was needed and could be provided to facilitate competition in the scenario the Cathaoirleach described.