Aid co-financing raised at dairy forum

Co-ops have warned that extraordinary measures are needed to help the dairy industry, hit by a market slump in a period of high investment and expansion.

Through their ICOS grouping, the milk processors encouraged Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to introduce measures such as a farm income deferral scheme.

“Ireland has the opportunity to take a lead in this regard, and ICOS believes that European authorities and other Member States would be receptive,” said an ICOS spokesperson, during this week’s first dairy forum for stakeholders in the sector.