ICOS participated at the National Economic Dialogue meeting on the 28-29 June in Dublin. The two day event hosted by the Taoiseach and his Cabinet discussed policy priorities in advance of the next budget. The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed hosted a breakout session on the implications of Brexit and broader challenges for the agri food sector. ICOS at the National Economic Dialogue encouraged the Minister to implement an income stabilisation tool based on the ICOS ‘555’ Proposal. At Budget 2016, the Minister agreed with the Department of Finance to consider potential income stabilisation tools, whereby some income might be deferred in a period of high prices and drawn down in a period of lower prices, to see if these are possible for a future introduction.

By Eamonn Farrell

Agri Food Policy Executive