Fears grow for €140m sugar industry
Parent company Greencore declined to comment yesterday on speculation it is planning to bring sugar beet processing in Ireland to an end after 80 years. Growers had until last Wednesday to tell Greencore if they were prepared to grow the crop for processing this year. Greencore was reported this week as claiming replies it had received were inconclusive.
A spokesperson was quoted as saying responses did not indicate any credible measure of growers’ intent.
However, IFA president Padraig Walshe said last week that confirmation by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan that she had chosen 2004 as the reference year for the EU restructuring and diversification compensation for growers removed the major obstacle for the 2006 crop.
He said the minister’s decision cleared the way for Greencore to offer contracts to growers for this year. He requested the company to immediately clarify its intentions to growers.
The end of Irish sugar processing has been predicted since the EU adopted radical reforms of the industry. But hopes were high of one last growing and processing campaign in Mallow at Ireland’s remaining sugar factory.
SIPTU said unions representing Greencore workers has requested the Irish Congress of Trade Unions seek a meeting with Minister Coughlan to put the workers’ case for retaining jobs in the sugar industry.
