'Only matter of time before all tractors will be electric,' says Micheál Martin 

An electric tractor being used in Ethiopia and which was developed by an Irish company.

All tractors in Ireland will be electric when this becomes economically viable, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said.

He was speaking at the unveiling of the first electric tractor in Ethiopia - a tractor developed by an Irish company working with local partners.

Mr Martin, who was on a trip to Ethiopia and Kenya, described it as an "Irish tractor" and predicted widespread use of this technology one day.

"That will come when we make it economically viable, it will come," he said.

This special design is a low-cost model to suit the small-holder farmers in Ethiopia.

"Overtime, electric will be the future. Of that there is no doubt," he said.

"It is only a matter of time. We must continue to invest in research and development to make it happen. That’s the key to it.," the Tánaiste said.

David Moore, the Dubliner behind Regenerators, the company which developed this tractor as an electric model, said the project has only been possible thanks to generous support from Irish Aid.