Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Cairns and Crowe for raising this issue. We should acknowledge that being able to bid online in the safety of their home and not having to go out has been welcome for some farmers. There is no doubt there have been challenges for those who do not have Internet access. Compared with the situation in March and April where online transactions were not available and we had a bidding and tendering process for stock, the situation now is much more preferable. That tendering option is still available for farmers who do not have Internet access and they can work with their mart managers to try to facilitate them. I know some are doing that. I accept it is challenging. There are inconveniences there.

Regarding the sales, the clearances are very good and the prices are holding up from a seller’s point of view, but it is challenging from a buyer’s point of view. It is a reflection of the fact we are in level 5 and the national challenge we face in dealing with the pandemic. I will continue to keep the matter under very close review and I take on board what the Deputies have said.

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