EC sugar plan leaves sour taste with Minister

Minister for Trade and Commerce Michael Ahern, today claimed EC proposals on reforming EU sugar policies threaten more than 1,000 Irish jobs.

Minister Ahern expressed his concern in relation to the impact of the recent European Commission proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime.

He stressed that the current proposals have very serious implications for the Irish sugar processing industry.

“The proposals threaten the jobs of more than 1,000 people in the Irish sugar processing industry and also the livelihood of those thousands of farmers currently growing sugar beet,” he said.

Minister Ahern went on to confirm his full support for the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, in his determination to strongly oppose the proposals when they come before the Council of Agriculture Ministers.

As trade minister, Minister Ahern has responsibility for Ireland’s input to negotiations in the World Trade Organisation on the Doha Round of trade liberalisation.