The Department of Agriculture was urged to bring forward the reopening of marts by a farm leader as it announced the resumption of the live export trade with Italy. Mr Pat O'Rourke, the president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, asked that marts reopen next Monday and not June 18th.
The absence of marts made it difficult to assemble cattle for markets like Italy, he said, and might mean a loss of valuable customers. "If our cattle cannot get to these markets immediately, our customers will go elsewhere." The Minister, Mr Walsh, said access to the market through France, where cattle would have to be rested en route, still had to be resolved. Progress had been made at EU level through the EU Standing Veterinary Committee. Discussions were continuing with the French authorities to finalise an agreement. A French agreement would free up the Spanish market which is willing to accept Irish cattle.
There were negative findings from Pirbright yesterday on samples from two Irish cattle, a bullock from Co Laois and a calf from Co Cork, which were identified last week as suspects. Only one sample from Ireland is now being examined, from a sheep from Quigley's Point, Donegal. Sheep shearing resumed under strict conditions on farms yesterday. State permits have to be obtained.