Milk suppliers to enter talks

THE ICMSA has accepted an invitation from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to enter talks on a new national agreement, but has set out areas that must be addressed to restore profitability in farming.

ICMSA president Pat O’Rourke called for a fundamental reduction in the cost of doing business, an extended wage freeze in the agri-food sector, full protection of the CAP and WTO and a complete ban on imports where there is a risk to human or animal health. Rural development and particularly social services for farm families also needs to be radically overhauled, he said.