Further efforts to resolve sugar beet crisis

The Tanaiste Mary Harney and the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh are to meet both sides in an attempt to resolve the sugar beet crisis.

The two ministers will meet separately with the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and Greencore and discuss independent mediator, Paddy Teahon’s report. Both sides have been contacted and agreed to separate with the two ministers.

Paddy Teahon’s report is expected to reach Mr Walsh later today and will contain details of the negotiations between the parties and their reaction to his proposals.

The proposals, which allow for the increase in the price paid per tonne to farmers by Greencore, was welcomed by the IFA but not the company themselves. The IFA has received the backing of beet growers with two thirds of their crop remaining on the ground.