The board of Cork marts led by Chairperson Lyle Buttimer and outgoing CEO Sean O’Sullivan visited Brussels in the first week of October meeting EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness and Irish MEPs.

Hosted by ICOS, Brussels, the group also visited a 350 head dairy farm in Flanders aswell as the iconic Ciney Mart, one hour south of Brussels. They also paid a visit and took a tour of the Belgian Blue Group AI centre in Ciney, Wallonia which distributes Belgian Blue bovine genetic products to customers across the world.

Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher greeted the group at the European Parliament where they discussed issues such as the Nitrates Derogation extension and animal transport legislation. The group also met with Sean Kelly MEP.

EU Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Markets and Capital Markets Union Mairead McGuinness welcomed the board to her office in the EU Commission Berlaymont Headquarters. There they discussed a wide range of pertinent issues with Commissioner McGuinness including farmer access to finance, the future of the CAP budget, EU Commission proposals on live calf exports, and the issue of generational renewal among a wide ranging exchange of views on topical challenges and opportunities.

Cork Co-operative Marts Limited is Ireland’s largest Livestock Auctioneers. It is a farmer owned Co-operative, with 11,000 shareholders selling 190,000 cattle and calves and 70,000 sheep annually across its six mart locations in Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.

The Brussels visit comes as long serving and highly respected CEO Sean O’Sullivan announced that he is to step down from his post at the helm early next year. He has worked with Cork marts for almost three decades joining as financial controller in 1995 before being appointed CEO 18 months later.

According to Cork Marts 2023 accounts, mart sales reached record levels of €164 million and a €1.5m growth in shareholders’ funds to €26.1m.

ICOS wishes Sean every success in his retirement.