As the umbrella organisation for co-operatives in Ireland, ICOS provides a range of services to its member co-operatives and represents them on national and international organisations.

ICOS is one of the Social Partners and is a party to the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness that was agreed early in 2000. ICOS has been party to all of the National Programmes since the Programme for National Recovery in 1987.

ICOS is represented on many expert working groups, advisory committees and other consultative bodies, advising Government Departments, the European Commission and others on co-operative views on many issues.

ICOS also has nominees on the boards of other organisations including the Irish Dairy Board, Teagasc, the National Dairy Council and the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).