Sugar compensation share-out is a disgrace

THE decision to give Greencore the bulk of the sugar industry compensation fund was a disgrace. Indeed it becomes even more shameful when one bears in mind other aspects of the sorry affair.

While Greencore, a private firm that presided over the demise of what was the most successful public enterprise in the State, will now set about stripping the assets of the redundant plants, workers and farmers are at a loss.

The 3,700 beet growers will receive 30% of the compensation fund while workers at the Mallow plant are only being offered statutory redundancy despite undertakings that they would receive a fairer reward for years of service. In all of this Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, despite the Government’s ‘golden share’ in Greencore, has washed her hands of any responsibility for the shoddy manner in which the company has treated beet growers and workers.

While Sinn Féin and others have put a reasoned and costed proposal that the former beet processing facilities could be used to produce bio-ethanol, Greencore has refused even to consider that option. This despite the fact that Ireland is obliged to meet EU targets for biofuels which would rescue the jobs, the producers and the commercial value of the existing facilities. Rather than do this, Greencore is content to asset-strip what was built up over many generations for a quick profit.

Martin Ferris TD

Leinster House

Kildare Street

Dublin 2.