Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The reform of the EU sugar regime was a difficult process for all concerned resulting in the closure of a traditional agriculture sector. It has unfortunately become the subject of this type of debate, much of which is ill informed. The purpose of the special report of the European Court of Auditors is to consider whether the reform of the sugar market had achieved its main objectives. As an eminent economist publicly stated, the Court of Auditors criticised the design of the reform on a number of grounds, but to conclude that the Irish industry could have remained viable in this scenario is an exercise in escapism. That is what an economist stated today following the report.

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