ICOS – ELECTION OF MICHAEL SPELLMAN

Michael Spellman has been elected President of the European Association of Livestock Markets (EALM) which represents 14 national federations and over 600 livestock marts across Europe.  EALM marts are responsible for the sale of about 35 million cattle, sheep, pigs and horses annually.

Mr. Spellman is currently in his second term of office as Chairman of the National Marts Committee of ICOS – the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society Ltd.  He has served as Vice-President of the European Association since 2012.   From Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon, he is a Board Member both of ICOS and of Roscommon Co-operative Livestock Mart.

EALM promotes the role of livestock marts among EU and international policy makers and government authorities along with initiatives designed to promote the modernisation and development of the marts industry.

Ireland’s livestock mart sector includes over 60 co-operative mart centres across the country.   Over one million cattle are sold in Ireland every year in co-operative livestock marts.  90% of Irish beef is exported to more than 50 countries worldwide.  70% of Irish sheep meat is exported. The main export markets are the UK and France.

ICOS represents 130 co-operative businesses and organisations in Ireland – including the livestock marts and the dairy processing co-operatives – with some 150,000 individual members, 12,000 employees in Ireland (a further 24,000 abroad) and combined turnover of €10 billion. Irish agricultural exports contribute over €7 billion to the Irish economy each year and the sector accounts for 8% of national employment