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.
ICOS has proposed the 5-5-5 scheme to combat extreme dairy income volatility (see page 4).
It seeks political support for strong live cattle exports, a co-operative model for rural development (including renewable energy projects; and provision of broadband to all rural communities.
It wants to address the power of retail multiples and meat processors which ICOS says has shut down traditional live exports to the UK, and singles out anti-competitive measures by meat processors which ICOS says have removed trading in factory-fit animals from its co-op livestock mart members.
The co-ops demand a government strategy to ensure that free trade between Britain and Ireland is unaltered by any political change, and want strong negotiation by the next Government on CAP funding, international trade negotiations, and EU climate change negotiations.
