ICOS calls for creation of a rural ministry
ICOS represents more than 130 co-ops with combined turnover of about 14 billion, with about 150,000 members, employing 12,000 people in Ireland, and a further 24,000 people overseas.
In its manifesto for election parties and candidates, it also calls on the next government to amend the rural development programme without delay to provide for low cost, accessible long term finance for the agri-food sector, offered by the European Investment Bank.
