Casein decision ‘extremely damaging’

A DECISION by the European Commission to cut casein aid level by 52% was described as excessive and extremely damaging by the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), the co-ops umbrella body.

Director general John Tyrrell said the ICOS had set out its opposition to a casein aid cut in a meeting with Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan and her officials earlier this week and on a number of occasions to the Commission. He said the Commission maintained the cut was justified due to budget pressures, increased casein production and strong markets.

However, Mr Tyrrell said the reduction is not justified on the basis of market returns, especially when the relative weakness of the US dollar is taken into account.