John Comer has been decisively returned as ICMSA President. The Mayo dairy farmer defeated challenger Stephen Shorten and will now serve the second of three permitted two-year terms. The election took place at a meeting of the 108-strong National Council on Wednesday afternoon, with Comer successful as expected.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal immediately following the result being announced, John Comer said he intends to be active and forceful in what he said will be a defining year for the Irish dairy sector in particular. "There is a lot of regulation around farming, most of it justified to deliver top quality traceable food" he said. "But what's the point of all this regulation if decision makers then abandon farmers to a totally deregulated market? That cannot be allowed to happen."

Comer repeated his belief, recently expressed at the ICMSA agm, that he is optimistic regarding the long-tem future for dairy farming in this country. "The short-term, particularly 2015, will present a considerable challenge for all of us" said Comer. "External issues, including political crises, have led to weak markets. We must explore every option, and consider every instrument, to support prices". John Comer concluded by complimenting to his opponent Stephen Shorten, saying they had a good working relationship, and that the campaign had been concerned and fought on policy issues, not personality politics.