President Michael D Higgins is to join with over 200 Irish industry and public sector leaders to mark the UN International Year of Co-operatives at a national conference in Croke Park on Tuesday, May 15.

AN initiative by the Swedish presidency of the European Union to set up a special farm council meeting on October 5 to discuss the dairy crisis was welcomed yesterday.

THE European Union was warned yesterday that an unfolding crisis in agriculture across member states could result in escalating protests.