ICOS praises Minister Walsh’s skills

ICOS president Dónal Cashman has described the contribution of Minister Joe Walsh to the food and agricultural sectors as tremendous.

Mr Cashman said Minister Walsh, who is to retire as Minister next month, had actively promoted the develop-ment of the sector for the long-term benefit of its stakeholders. His tenacity ensured that Irish food sector concerns were always considered at the EU Farm Council.

ICSA president Malcolm Thompson said Minister Walsh will be remembered as a European rather than a parochial politician. Yet, for ICSA his finest achieve-ment was his ability to listen to the farming grassroots and introduce full decoupling in line with its policy.