Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The Minister has accepted that there is a difficult relationship between Greencore and the farmers. I ask her to intervene on behalf of people who cannot do so for themselves. She should take the initiative in bringing all sides together to sort out the outstanding issues that are likely to emerge from this serious blow to the economy of Carlow and for producers and workers alike. The Minister either has a golden share, and therefore an interest in the company, or she has not. If she takes the initiative to bring all sides together to thrash out these issues it would be much appreciated by everybody in the constituency, including the employees who are directly involved and the producers.

During the privatisation of the Irish Sugar Company, the Taoiseach, who was then the Minister for Finance, sent correspondence to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. He gave all sorts of assurances about the impact the golden share would have on any processing plants, employment and the sugar quota. The Minister should refer to the 1993 file where the present Taoiseach's commitments were given. Perhaps he could take a personal interest in this matter, given the views he expressed at that time and the commitments that were given which now, unfortunately, mean nothing. Would the Minister agree that the golden share that was promised in the context of privatisation actually means nothing in terms of the power the Minister for Agriculture and Food has?

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