Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I just left a meeting with workers, sugar beet producers and community interests from the Mallow area. They are all devastated as a result of the announcement by Greencore last week to shut down the Irish sugar industry and bring to an end an 80 year old tradition of sugar beet production in this country. We discussed the matter in this House on a number of occasions during the past 12 months. The bigger and even bleaker picture which is now emerging is the profound threat to the entire tillage industry. Members who represent agricultural areas are aware of the integral part sugar beet plays in the overall tillage industry. If 4,000 sugar beet producers are taken out of the equation, including tens of thousands of acres of land, the future of the entire Irish tillage industry is now under extreme threat and at a point of great peril.

I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food to come to this House at the earliest possible opportunity to debate how this House and the Government can address the crisis facing the Irish tillage industry. We must put whatever measures are necessary in place to ensure its survival. We debated on many occasions the possibility of growing alternative energy crops for the production of biodiesel and bioethanol, which must be at the core of the debate.

I could raise these matters on the Adjournment, but with all due respect to Adjournment debates, these are national issues which require substantive debate at the earliest possible opportunity. I ask the Leader to take the matter on board. I apologise for not being able to remain for the Leader's response because I must return to the meeting. I am grateful to have had an opportunity to raise these issues.