Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I wish to share my time with Senator Callanan. I thank the Chair for affording me an opportunity to speak on the crisis facing the Irish sugar beet industry, and the need for the Minister and her Government colleagues to ensure the strongest possible case is made to the Commission to secure this fine native industry.

I am glad the Minister is here to respond directly to this crucial issue. The sugar beet industry has helped to sustain Irish agriculture, particularly the tillage industry, since the late 1920s or early 1930s. At one time there were four sugar beet factories in Ireland. Now, as a result of the decision by Greencore to shut down the Carlow plant, only one such factory will remain, in Mallow. This afternoon I speak not only of a factory or those who work there or otherwise depend on it; I speak also of the broader industry and the interests of the Irish tillage sector. As the Minister well knows, if the proposals that have been put forward for the reform of the sugar beet sector are enacted, they will shut down the Irish sugar industry and bring the growing of sugar beet and the production of sugar in this country to an end.

I am aware that on 14 July the Minister will have her first set of discussions or negotiations in Brussels on this issue with her fellow European Agriculture Ministers. I demand, plead and confidently expect that she will fight the good fight at that level to have the initial Commission proposals rejected. There is no need for me to remind the Minister that if the proposals, with their substantial price cut and inadequate levels of compensation, are put in place, the Irish sugar industry will die. With it will go not just the livelihoods of the 4,000 or so growers but thousands of associated jobs in transport, factories and distribution. The tillage industry itself, with its whole basis of rotation, will be affected.

There has been talk of compensation, and the early figures being put forward by Brussels are entirely inadequate. However, even if we have the best compensation package available, I hope the Minister will put at the top of her shopping list during the talks the retention of a viable industry in this country. Compensation is but a short-term solution. We need a long-term plan for the sugar industry and must ensure the Irish agriculture sector continues to benefit from growing sugar beet in the future. I ask the Minister to put all her efforts and those of her Department into this project. In that sense, will the same level of political input at ministerial and prime ministerial level be required as with the milk quota negotiations of 1983? I ask that she use her resources to save the Irish sugar beet industry and keep sugar beet a part of Irish agriculture.

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak on this issue. I will allow Senator Callanan a moment or two to speak.