ICOS Rural Business Committee
The ICOS Rural Business Committee is comprised of 13 representatives spanning the entire membership of ICOS, with the three pillars of the organisation, dairy co-operatives, livestock marts and rural business co-operatives all having representatives on the Committee along with the President of Macra na Feirme.
The Committee’s main role is to:
- consider and, if thought fit, approve any policy submissions being made to Government in respect of promoting new and existing co-operatives in the broader co-operative sector;
- providing a local ‘on-the-ground’ perspective on national policies and programmes from across the ICOS affiliate network;
- give ICOS a mandate to work on various initiatives.
An example of the topics the Committee has worked on over the last few years are as follows:
- Renewable energy and the bioeconomy;
- Young farmer engagement and generational renewal;
- Measuring the impact and social value of co-operatives; and
- Reform of the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts.
ICOS Rural Business Committee Members
Hugh O’Reilly
Chair of ICOS Rural Business Committee
National Federation of Group Water Schemes
Bert Stewart
Commercial Mushroom Producers Ltd
Andy Boylan
Sicín Co-operative Society Limited
Sean Brosnan
Castleisland Co-operative Livestock Mart Ltd
Willie Meaghar
Tipperary Co-operative Creamery Ltd
Dominic Cronin
Boherbue Co-operative Creamery Ltd
John Ruddy
Inishowen Co-operative Society Ltd
James Gleeson
Roscommon Co-operative Livestock Mart
Sean Sherman
Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders Society Limited
Gerald Dunne
Irish Farm Accounts Co-Operative Society Limited
John O’Sullivan
Kerry Co-operative Creameries Limited
Elaine Houlihan
Macra na Feirme
Ronan Feighery
National Co-operative Farm Relief Services Limited
Robert McBride
Sicin Co-operative Society Limited
Dominic Cronin
Boherbue Co-operative Agricultural & Dairy Society Limited
William Meagher
Arrabawn Tipperary Co-operative Society Ltd
