The Whiskey File: Minister urged to ensure Irish whiskey is made with Irish grains
There is absolutely no requirement now to use Irish grain in the production of Irish whiskey, one TD has said.
Politicians have called on the Government to ensure Irish grain is used in the production of the country’s world-famous whiskey.
Irish Whiskey is a Geographical Indication registered with the European Commission and must be produced in accordance with the Irish Whiskey Technical File. That file does not currently require the use of Irish grain in the production of Irish whiskey, but the process of amending it is now underway.
Issues relating to the production and marketing of Irish whiskey without Irish grain have been repeatedly highlighted in the Dáil, Senate and at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture. More recently, Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere (FF) told the Dáil it was recently reported that the Department of Agriculture intends to re-open the technical files on Irish whiskey.
Currently, Irish whiskey is defined as a "spirit distilled on the island of Ireland ... from a mash of malted cereals, with or without whole grains of other cereals". By this definition, there is absolutely no requirement now to use Irish grain in the production of Irish whiskey, he said.
Deputy Cleere asked the minister for agriculture Martin Heydon if he was able to confirm if the technical files will be re-opened?
“If they are, would he be supportive of requiring Irish whiskey to be made with grain grown in Ireland? To me, this would seem an obvious way to support the struggling tillage sector,” he said.
Minister Heydon said the whiskey file is one element that can be done as part of future-proofing. He had discussed the role of quality assurance at a recent meeting with tillage farmers.
He had discussed how progress can be made through working together, and addressing the use of native grains, how they are used in our feed system, how they are incorporated and how that can be monetised for farmers.
“I have asked for the whiskey file to be re-examined. I have responsibility for the whiskey sector, which is under significant pressure. I am not coming to that with a specific viewpoint.
“It is about looking at that technical file to see how we can bring that value-added piece. That is the medium-term solution for supporting the tillage sector beyond one-off payments or financial direct schemes,” he said.
Minister Heydon also informed Deputy Cleere in a written reply to another Dáil question that two submissions are being examined ahead of a public consultation process.
“While I do not want to prejudice that process, one of the issues to be examined is whether imposing a requirement to use Irish grain in the production of Irish whiskey would be in accordance with EU Single Market principles,” he said.
The minister said there are no obstacles at present to prevent an operator from producing an Irish whiskey product made solely of Irish grains and declaring as such on the product label. He was aware of some such products already on the marketplace.
“The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the agri-food industry and is a sector that I want to see grow and develop. Adding value to Irish grain will be an integral part of growing and improving the economic sustainability of the tillage sector,” he said.
Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (SF), Wicklow-Wexford, said some 300,000 tonnes of grain are used in the Irish drinks industry annually.
“We know that we do not have enough grain in Ireland, so at the very minimum, we should be using all Irish grain first before mass importation.
“The Government really needs to have a vision for an industry (tillage) that is dying on its feet. This is something we have been doing in Ireland for 6,000 years.
“It would be shameful if we were to drive all the young farmers off the land. Many of them do not see a future and neither do their parents regarding passing on the farm to their children,” he said.
Senator Cathal Byrne (FG), Wexford, speaking in the Upper House, said Irish whiskey can be sold and successfully labelled without Irish grain in it.
“If we are to support our tillage sector, there should be a food labelling requirement that grain from Ireland must be used when marketing something as Irish whiskey.
Kerry Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae (Ind) told the Dáil it was ridiculous to think that people can come along and sell Irish whiskey which has other grain in it.
Brian Brennan (FG), Wicklow-Wexford, said he has a huge issue with the sale of Irish whiskey when it is not fully Irish. It should be what is on the label.
