IFA boss defends €106m claim for beet loss

THE Irish Farmers Association (IFA) yesterday rejected what it described as an attack by Greencore chief executive David Dilger on its claim for €106 million from the EU restructuring fund to cover losses incurred by sugar beet growers.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said the assessment of the losses to growers prepared by Deloitte for the IFA was based on a very clear methodology - comparing the income of sugar beet growers pre-reform with the alternative income from the next best enterprise, wheat, in the future.

The Deloitte assessment also takes full account of the diversification fund for growers and the decoupled single payment that beet growers will receive, irrespective of beet production in the future.

“David Dilger is now attempting to present spurious arguments in the media in an effort to undermine the IFA case.

“For example, he is claiming that the cost of rented land is excluded, but he should note that it is also excluded in the exercise in calculating the income from the alternative crop, wheat.

“Mr Dilger’s suggestion that any allocation of more of the restructuring fund to growers does not comply with EU rules is without foundation,” he added.

Mr Walshe challenged Mr Dilger to identify the consultants retained by Greencore.

“I want to flush out David Dilger and I’m calling on him to put his figures on the table,” he said.