One of the things which spurred Horace Plunkett to start the co-operative movement in Ireland in 1894 was the realisation after 10 years in America, that Irish farmers needed to organise to face the threat of competition from overseas.

A century later, Mr John Tyrrell, the director general of the Irish Co-Operative Organisation Society (ICOS), believes the co-operative movement is as relevant today as it was in Plunkett's time. And the threat of competition from overseas is still as prominent, this time in the form of enlargement of the EU.

"The centre of gravity is going to move eastwards. It's an area of uncertainty as to what the impact will be. We don't want to be negative but we do have concerns and we need to see how those concerns can be addressed. The areas that are going to come under pressure are the budget, direct payments, things like the support systems we have. How are they going to be affected? The cost of that is not as easy, as Germany has found in the 10 years since unification.

"We need to have a significant voice in the centre of Europe. It's essential we retain our Commissioner," he says.

But co-operation already extends eastwards to countries which aspire to EU membership. "We're currently linking the co-operative organisations in the 10 countries of central and eastern Europe with the 15 current members of the EU and building their knowledge. The differences are not as wide in some areas."

The ICOS, housed in a handsome Georgian building in Dublin's Merrion Square, is the umbrella body for the agri-food co-operative movement, advising societies on policy issues, structural development, membership training, legal and financial matters and obtaining grant aid.

Its membership ranges from huge co-operatives like IAWS, Kerry, Glanbia and Golden Vale to livestock marts, fishing societies and cattle breeding enterprises.

"Even with the changes in structures in big co-operatives, all of them still use our services significantly," Mr Tyrrell says. "I wouldn't say our influence has waned but the way it's conducted may have changed. I think there will always be a role for a co-ordinating organisation. We have the expertise, the trust of the co-operatives and the contacts and can act as middlemen, peacemakers, contact points."

Although over a century old, the ICOS has a young feel, with many young people among its 20 staff at its headquarters. Mr Tyrrell is 48, a Dubliner - although from a dairy farming background in Shankill - who has a degree in agriculture, with a specialisation in animal production.

He worked with ADAS in Britain as a dairy husbandry adviser and in a range of jobs since joining the ICOS in 1978. He has since studied accountancy, taken a diploma in corporate directorship from UCC and is a director of the IAWS co-operative and a director of the Council of the Irish European Movement.

Educated at Presentation College in Bray, he is a keen sportsman and played rugby for Lansdowne for many years. "My picture is on the wall with a couple of trophies," he says modestly; one of them shows him with Mr John Malone, now secretary general of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. He plays off a handicap of 16 at Woodbrook Golf Club, a mile from his home.

An example of the influence of the ICOS can be seen in its recent Strategic Review of the Irish Dairy Sector which proposed the restructuring of processing facilities. "We got excellent reaction. Dairy markets have strengthened during 2000, but despite that people are recognising the realities in what we have outlined and they are keen on following it up.

"If you're going to invest in facilities you have to anticipate how the market will be in five, 10, 15 years time. They have to plan on a longer timescale than other types of businesses."

Next Tuesday the ICOS will introduce a strategy for the 33 co-operative livestock marts suggesting ways in which it should develop in the context of the changed market circumstances facing them, examining cost structures, areas for development and the improvement of relevant services.

The ICOS acts in a lobbying capacity with the Government. "The strength of the organisation is the co-ordinating role. That is very important for Government departments. They can get an overall view for big, medium and small co-operatives, rather than individual business coming along with their prospectuses," he says.

And ICOS provides a voice for the agri-food sector in Europe through its office there - "it's a very important eyes and ears for us" - and its active involvement in COGECA, the European co-operative organisation, of which Mr Tyrrell was a vice-president for four years.

In a fast-moving market economy, one wonders if there still is a place for something like the cooperative movement. Mr Tyrrell says there absolutely is.

"They must continue to work with existing structures as they evolve and develop in the changing economic and policy environment that will come with EU enlargement and further World Trade Organisation agreements.

"Co-operatives are still attractive because for the individual in the market who has very little influence, by combining resources, they have great bargaining strength. That allows producers to concentrate on what they do best and by having a co-op, they have someone in the marketplace to represent their interests," he says.