Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

Has the Minister met her Polish counterpart? It is critically important that Poland is and remains on our side on this issue. Some 3.8 million tonnes of the sugar quota must be reduced by May 2006. Are there proposals to phase this in over a longer period? Has the Minister discussed at European level allowing Ireland the right to produce sugar? The key question is that we are only producing enough sugar for our domestic market. We must have the right to produce sugar in Ireland. If the Commission's proposals go ahead, we will never have that right again.

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