The honouring of animal sales at Mullingar-based TLT International, one of Ireland’s leading exporters, will be dealt with. This is according to Taoiseach Enda Kenny who was at the Good Food Ireland event in the Shelbourne last night.

Speaking to AgriLand, he said: “I know some of the buyers that were operating with them. Clearly there’s an issue here that needs to be followed through. It may well be that there is a purchaser for that obviously the marts have made their situation known. In terms of honouring sales of animals. This is a matter that will be dealt with and followed through.”

He continued: “Hopefully we get back to a point again were we have reputable live export situation.  Clearly it has always been an important valve in Ireland’s case and obviously the quality of what was exported was second to none.”

TLT, owned by the Garavelli family, went into receivership recently when its main banker HSBC pulled the plug on credit to the company two weeks ago. It receiver Grant Thornton is proactively contacting all Mullingar-based TLT’s creditors, farming organisations and suppliers of affected marts to gain a full understanding of all stakeholders’ positions.

AgriLand understands three domestic and one foreign party have expressed an interest in buying the company.

Tomorrow the Irish Co-Operative Society, the Irish Farmers Association, ICMSA Ireland and ICSA Ireland is set to meet with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food and it is understood they will be calling for safeguards to be put in place to prevent a similar reoccurrence of the debacle. It is scheduled for 11am and can be watched here.

Meanwhile, speaking on the Good Food Ireland Awards, the Taoiseach said he was honoured to present the awards for the seventh time running. “What’s remarkable here is the continued passion and dedication of the people involved in all of this,” he told AgriLand. “The quality of the food and the pride they have in it is second to none and that’s what makes it different and that’s what us successful and that’s why these people need to be supported and will be supported.”

Pictured TLT International at Knockdrin, Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Monday/Photo Jeff Harvey

Additional reporting Cormac Farrelly