Government vows to fight ‘unacceptable’ measures

THE European Commission proposals for sugar industry reform are simply not acceptable in their present form, Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said yesterday.

Her remarks were echoed by farming, industry and political leaders as fears intensified that the proposals could wipe out the Irish beet growing and sugar processing industry which has played a vital role in Ireland’s rural economy for 80 years.

Ms Coughlan said she acknowledged there was a need to reform the sugar regime but the proposals published in Brussels yesterday were unbalanced and could lead to drastic consequences for the sugar beet industry in a number of member states including Ireland.