Commenting on the lineup and agenda for upcoming ICMSA Annual General Meeting to be held on 2 December in the Clare Radisson outside Limerick, the Association’s President, Denis Drennan, said that the message they were getting back strongly from members attending the Area and County meetings was the need to focus strongly on ‘core’ farmer concerns.
Mr. Drennan said that with that feedback in mind, the agenda and tone of the AGM was going to be “for farmers, by farmers” with political and non-farming input to be kept to a minimum for 2024.
“It’s time that we heard from those individuals and organisations charged with directly developing and strategizing for the Irish farm sector and the wider agri-food sector. Conor Galvin, Chief Executive of Ornua will speak on the dairy market outlook and whether we’ll see the recent rally carry through to ‘Peak Production’ in 2025 and beyond. We also expect to hear what Ornua’s plans are in the event of the introduction of the tariffs threatened by the incoming Trump Administration”, said Mr Drennan.
Brendan Gleeson, Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine has kindly accepted our invitation to speak to the AGM and his theme is ‘Key Farm Policy Issues to 2030?’, where he will outline what the Department believe will be the key policy changes facing Irish farmers over the next six years. It’s also fair to say that there’s a lot of farmers with questions about the efficacy and relevance of Bord Bia’s schemes and we are confident that Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia Chief Executive will be able to field those and throw some light on some of the more controversial areas.
“There’s so much to get through and we greatly value our tradition of robust and business-like Q & A of speakers while extending to them all the respect and welcome that they deserve. The venue is excellent, and I’d urge our great ‘Model County ’ members to travel if possible and join us – and participate in – what promises to be another great ICMSA event. Ring or email to 061-314677 or info@icmsa.ie and indicate intention to attend because the numbers will be capped”, said Mr Drennan.
Agenda for ICMSA:
11.00 – Minutes, Matters Arising, Statement of Accounts, Appointment of Auditor
11.45 -Dairy Market Outlook & Key Milk Market Developments to 2030 – Mr Conor Galvin, Chief Executive, Ornua
12.30pm -Resolutions
1.00pm – 2.00pm – Dinner
2.00pm – 2.30pm – Address by Mr Denis Drennan, President of ICMSA
2.30pm – 3.30pm – Key Farm Policy Issues To 2030? – Mr Brendan Gleeson, General Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine
3.30pm – 4.30pm – How Bord Bia Schemes Benefit Farmers? – Mr Jim O’Toole, Chief Executive, Bord Bia
4.30pm – Conclusion
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
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