Farmers whose cattle were exported to Algeria have been urged to apply for the Beef Finishers Payment by the Emerald Isle Beef Producers group.

In a statement, Eamon Corley – representative of the producer group – stressed that such applications should include the term “application under appeal” in the submission.

Corley said: “For anyone who had cattle on the boat to Algeria over the summer, the advice that I have got is that farmers should apply for the Covid-19 compensation for these animals and include the words ‘application under appeal’.”

The Emerald Isle producer group representative noted that such animals were sold at New Ross Mart through the weigh-and-pay method.

Continuing, he said: “The animals were also slaughtered within the required 30 days.

They went to Algeria with a certificate signed by the Irish Department of Agriculture for direct slaughter. Denial of the Covid-19 compensation payment for these animals would be discrimination against the beef finishers who supported live shipments.

“A similar application under appeal should be made by any farmer who cleared cattle in an Irish mart that went for direct slaughter in Northern Ireland,” Corley claimed.

“The Irish government has always argued that there should be free trade on the island of Ireland.

“A refusal to pay compensation on animals sent to the North for direct slaughter would not be consistent with their barrier-free approach to trade on the island.

“Farmers only have until [today, Wednesday, September 9] so this application needs to be made now without delay to beat the deadline,” Corley concluded.