Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make a statement on the exclusion of sugar beet from the grant scheme covering energy crops; and if her Department made any submissions on this issue when the regulation was being framed. [8878/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Sugar beet was excluded from the energy crops scheme in view of the possibility of affecting the market for sugar. The scheme for energy crops was introduced as part of the CAP reforms of 2003. Sugar beet is one of the products covered by the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector and this COM was not covered by the 2003 reforms. Making a submission on the inclusion of sugar beet in the energy crops scheme therefore was not appropriate. Formal proposals for the reform of the sugar sector are not expected until May or June this year.