Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner to the Chamber and commend him on the work he has done so far. I am sure he has been to many far-flung places since he took up his role but I am certain, too, that he is aware that the Kilkenny hurling team seems to have unearthed another Henry Shefflin at the weekend in the guise of Ger Aylward from Glenmore. I hope Mr. Hogan is keeping an eye on those things, as we are in Tipperary. Will he offer his support to the campaign that has been launched to achieve European heritage status for the game of hurling? It is our most ancient sport, going back to the 12th century, and has massive significance from an historical perspective. I am sure the Commissioner, as somebody who likes to think he will be attending a match in Croke Park every September, will assist that campaign in any way he can.

As I said, I commend Mr. Hogan on the work he has done thus far as Commissioner. When he took up the role, he was given quite a number of tasks: the implementation of the CAP; ensuring expenditure on rural development would result in jobs; paying particular attention to the principle of subsidiarity; the simplification of direct payments for greening and rural development; achieving energy efficiency and emissions reductions; and contributing to the 2016 review of the multiannual financial framework by identifying ways of further increasing the focus of the CAP on jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness. Since he has taken up his role, he has been extremely busy. He has approved and overseen the 24 rural development programmes, as already stated. I am glad to state that, at national level, we are progressing very well in this area. Most of the plans from the various boards have been approved at this stage. Only a few are outstanding, including that from my county. I hope this will be resolved very soon. The plans will see up to 40,000 jobs created in rural areas and provide training for over 700,000 people.

The Commissioner has approved 41 new programmes to promote agricultural products in the European Union, emphasising in particular third-country markets. He has commented that we must take on the challenge presented by the end of the milk quota system and see it as an opportunity for the Union. He has been involved in the establishment of the European Investment Bank. He also had a role in the work on the Youth Guarantee and the provision of social enterprise funds.

At national level, we have not been sitting on our hands. As the Commissioner is well aware, much progress has been made in recent years by the current Government on rural development, particularly recently by the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, who is from the Commissioner's county. Additional access to new markets has been gained in terms of meat production. I refer in particular to Lebanon, Vietnam and the Philippines. Supports for businesses in the food industry have been developed. We had a role in the ending of the milk quota and have played a big part in the new organic farm scheme.

I wish to devote my last two minutes to an issue of particular interest to me and, I am sure, the Commissioner because he is a Kilkenny man. I refer to the sugar beet industry. In 2011, for which year I have figures, 5 million ha of beet was grown globally. This culminated in the production of 273 million tonnes. Some 60 million tonnes of this total was turned into sugar. Across the world, 80% of sugar is derived from sugarcane and 20% from beet. It is in the latter area that I have a particular interest. As a young boy growing up in Carrick-on-Suir, I saw the sugar beet train heading to Thurles daily. In fact, it sustained the rail industry across rural areas in the months when there was no tourism.

In its wisdom, the previous Administration decided to sell off the industry to Greencore, which closed the last plant, in Mallow, in 2006. Previously, the plants in Thurles, Carlow and Tuam were closed. This saw the end of a magnificent era in Irish agribusiness and agriculture. My father-in-law, who was a farmer, often told me the most profitable crop was beet. I ask the Commissioner to assist in re-establishing the market and product in Ireland. We are currently importing an unbelievable amount of sugar. Every bit of sugar in the country still has the Siúcra name but the brand is now in Germany. As far as I am concerned, Siúcra is being put on a brand that belongs to the Irish people. I ask for the assistance of the Commissioner. Some work has been done, particularly in the Carlow area, to set up a new company. Some seed capital has been raised but a lot of work has yet to be done. It would be fantastic if Mr. Hogan could see the company established in his time as Commissioner. I thank him for attending today.