David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister comment on the moot point which has been brought to our attention by the Court of Auditors - this relates to the period prior to the negotiations on compensation - in its special report? It is stated in the relevant part of the special report that "the impact assessment merely referred to studies which have ranked the sugar-producing regions according to the combined profitability of growers and producers, categorising the regions as: low, medium and high". The report further states:

The ranking was based on 2001 data for the EU sugar industry. However, the data had not been updated when the Commission made its proposal in 2005, notwithstanding that certain significant changes had taken place, such as increases in sugar beet yields in Spain and the United Kingdom and producer consolidation/rationalisation in Ireland.

This goes to the nub of the issue. Will the Minister comment on this matter? Is he stating that the Court of Auditors is completely wrong in its observation that the initial decision was based on out-of-date information? The decision to which I refer established the conditions in which all subsequent decisions were made and actions taken.

I wish to pose two further brief questions. Deputy Ned O'Keeffe stated earlier today that it would cost in the region of €40 million to establish a new plant. Does the Minister agree with that assertion? Will the Minister comment on the cost of importing sugar into this country? I understand that last year approximately €99 million worth of sugar was imported. Costs relating to molasses, transport and possibly ethanol are not included in that figure. Has the Minister given consideration to this aspect of the matter? My main question, however, relates to whether he agrees with the findings in the special report.

See this speech in context