Growers ‘against boards merger’

THE vast majority of horticultural growers are against the proposed merger of Bord Glas and Bord Bia, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent told the Dáil yesterday.

He said growers fear the merger will leave them with little power and asked what advance evaluation took place.

Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh said the report of the independent estimates review committee drew attention to the duplication of resources in the promotion and marketing of Irish exports. It suggested savings could be achieved through closer co-operation between Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Glas.