Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Does the Taoiseach agree an impression is abroad that the EU is treading water? Will he point out to the House any outcome of the London summit that would contradict that view? Will he raise the matter of the sugar regime at the mid-December summit? Does he agree with the serious concerns, particularly in the Mallow region, for the future of the facility at Mallow? I had the opportunity to visit it earlier this year. I presume the Taoiseach heard the same presentation from the company. The largest investment programme ever engaged in by Greencore is in the revamped factory at Mallow. Does the Taoiseach agree that whatever about the professionalism of management, the willingness of the workforce or the capacity of the factory that farmers will not continue to supply beet and it will not be economically viable for them to do so if the present proposals go ahead? Does he intend personally to bring this issue to the mid-December summit?

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