A farming lobby group says the position of milk suppliers must be central to any agreement on the future ownership of Kerry Group processing facilities.
It has been reported that the board of Kerry Co-op are on the brink of deciding to bid for a majority stake in Kerry Group's dairy business including facilities in Kerry, Cork and the UK.
The ICMSA has met with Kerry Co-op to discuss the issue and is seeking a meeting with Kerry Group and any third parties that may emerge.
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The group's President Pat McCormack says Kerry's milk processing facilities are critical to farmers and the wider rural economy and it must be a fundamental requirement of any new structure, if one emerges, that suppliers are protected.
