Co-ops accept rulebook changes

THE structures of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, the co-operatives national umbrella body, have been changed to meet challenges posed by a changed business environment.

Delegates attending a special general meeting of the society voted to accept a new set of rules.

President Padraig Gibbons said he was pleased the board recommendation in regard to the need for change had been strongly endorsed.

In line with many of its member societies, the co-operatives society was facing new challenges and operating in a business environment that had changed markedly since its rules were last reviewed.

“As an organisation, one of whose tasks is to advise members on governance issues such as board size and tighter, more focused, representational structures, it is appropriate that ICOS would show leadership by giving good example in regard to its own governance structure,” he said.

He said many society-affiliated agricultural co-operatives are trying to come to terms with a marketplace that will face reduced protection from Government and the EU.

In this context, co-operatives and their representative bodies will have an increasingly important role in the marketplace.

Individual members of co-operatives will have to rely on a competitive structure to protect their interests.

Board size is being reduced from 16 to 11 members. The representation structure below the level of the board is being changed, with the removal of the council tier and the establishment of three expert committees to deal with the dairy, marts and rural business sectors.

The Rural Business Committee will be responsible for the development of co-operative policy and for the development of co-operative sectors in the rural economy.