Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Commissioner, Mr. Phil Hogan, who holds the agriculture portfolio has had discussions on this issue to ensure a whiskey trade war will not happen. Pernod Ricard, the French company, owns the Jameson brand and Irish Distillers. In that context, it is very important that the IBEC equivalent in France come on board through its network. I launched the Jameson brand in Japan on behalf of Pernod Ricard. Its growth - it is just one of many products owned by Pernod Ricard - has been massive in the United States. Exports from Europe of Jameson whisky are among the fastest growing. In that context, a trade war would have a very dramatic effect.