EU gives nod but no funds to sugar revival
Mr Ciolos told farmers’ representatives at meetings in both Government Buildings and at the IFA’s annual general meeting in the RDS that the EU is not opposed to Ireland reopening the industry, but that it would have to be funded by those driving the revival.
IFA member James O’Brien said: “The closure of the sugar industry cost 3,700 farmers their livelihoods. What view does the EU have on the future development of the industry, and can Ireland be given preferential consideration given the manner in which our profitable industry was closed?”
Mr Ciolos replied: “If the European Parliament accepts the proposal [contained in the CAP reform proposal document] to end the sugar quota, then it is open to Ireland to decide itself whether to reopen the industry or not. However, that would have to be funded locally. There is no EU money available for this.”
The subject had also been raised at an earlier Dáil press conference. Again, the response from Mr Ciolos was that he wished Ireland well with any eventual bid to revive the sugar industry, adding that the market indications were that a competitively priced sugar product could be successful.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, said the Irish Government supports the Commission’s position. He said there was a growing interest in analysing the benefits of a reemergence of the Irish sugar industry.
Mr Coveney said: “Sugar has been a valuable cash crop for Irish farmers in the past. We have seen a number of feasibility studies carried out over the summer, and we will need to make a political decision about future Irish involvement in the sector.”
