Revived sugar industry ‘will create 300 jobs and generate €250m’

Ireland’s revived sugar industry will create 3,000 jobs and generate €250m annually when EU sugar quotas are removed from 2017, according to Beet Ireland chairman Michael Hoey.

Co-owner of Country Crest, Mr Hoey said the abolition of quotas will put Ireland back on the investment map for overseas chocolate crumb manu-facturers, confectioners, and drinks companies. Many had been put off investing here by the heavy cost of importing sugar.

“This gives the sector great clarity,” said Mr Hoey. “Simon Coveney and his colleagues have done a fantastic job; it is now up to us to deliver. We are delighted with the confirmation of 2017 as the date for the abolition of quotas. It will take us that long in any case to get the plant up and running.