Cashman: ICOS to be more active

NEW co-ops leader Donal Cashman has promised an active shareholding policy, to ensure that those who are actively trading with their co-ops have control of their future direction.

“It is vital that ICOS promotes a clear understanding of co-ops and their role in giving producers an outlet for their produce and adding value to that produce,” he said.

“We must also support and encourage their role in rural communities and the wider economy,” said Mr Cashman, after his election to succeed Dessie Boylan as President of ICOS, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society.

“We, as an industry, will have to adapt and develop in order to survive in a globally competitive environment.”

Mr Cashman said the current negotiations on the Mid-Term Review and WTO must ensure that the Irish agri-food sector will be competitive and have good prospects for the future.

He said ICOS would work with its member co-ops to address the challenges and opportunities arising from the Prospectus Report, published in March.

“All dairy processors and others in the industry must actively consider the recommendations in the Prospectus Report. This study must result in an action plan that will be implemented,” he said.

Mr Cashman said the livestock-marketing sector also faces change in the coming months.

The ICOS marts strategy would have to be pursued in order to ensure that livestock farmers will have competitive livestock services in the future, which take account of changing circumstances in agriculture.

Mr Cashman said another of his main objectives would be to strengthen ICOS and ensure that it is relevant and that it efficiently represents its member co-ops.

In this regard, the future funding of ICOS would be a vital element, he said.

The dairy farmer from White’s Cross, Co Cork, said he appreciated the strong vote of confidence from the ICOS board in electing him president.

He was IFA President from 1980 to 1984 and he has also been a member of the Economic and Social Committee in the EU, and of the Management Committees of Mitchelstown Co-op and of its CMP Dairy subsidiary.

He was an ICOS Vice-President from 1995 to 1997.

The current Chairman of IFAC and Enable Ireland, he is on the general committee of Dairygold Co-op and is a member of the Agricultural Trust, which owns the Farmer’s Journal newspaper.