Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the circumstances under which a restructuring levy will need to be awarded by sugar processors; if a company (details supplied) will be liable to pay such a levy in 2006; the value of such a levy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4240/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The political agreement on reform of the EU sugar regime provides for a restructuring scheme to be funded by a levy — temporary restructuring amount — payable by sugar processors in each of three marketing years, starting in 2006-07. The levy amounts per tonne of quota allocated shall be set at €126.40 per tonne of quota for the marketing year 2006-07, €173.80 per tonne of quota for the marketing year 2007-08 and €113.30 per tonne of quota for the marketing year 2008-09.

Arrangements for the operation of the restructuring scheme cannot be finalised pending the adoption of the relevant EU legislation. It is anticipated that the text of the relevant Council regulations will be approved at this month's meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers following the delivery of the European Parliament's opinion last month. The draft regulations are currently under discussion at technical level in Brussels. Once the Council regulations are adopted, the way will be clear for the implementing rules to be finalised and adopted by way of Commission regulation.