Written answers

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Sugar Quotas Abolition

Photo of Nicky McFaddenNicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1197. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the agreement to abolish all EU sugar quotas from September 2017 will assist in re-establishing the sugar industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37949/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2011 I met with two separate groups which had conducted feasibility studies, into the possibility of establishing a new sugar/bioethanol facility in the country. I understand from figures published by the interested groups who are investigating the possibility of building a new facility, that the overall capital cost costs involved could range from €250million to €400million, depending on what type of facility will be constructed.

I also informed both groups at the time and since, that any venture to develop a combined sugar/bioethanol production facility would have to be a viable commercial proposition, and supported by a business case which is sufficiently robust to attract the funding from investors for the very substantial capital investment required. My job was to look for agreement at EU level to allow for the growing of sugar beet for the manufacture of sugar, at the earliest possible time scale.

In this connection, I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that at the last Council of Agriculture Ministers in June, which I chaired under Ireland’s EU Presidency, I secured agreement as part of the overall CAP reform package to abolish sugar quotas by 30 September 2017. This agreement removes, with effect from 1 October 2017, the quota barrier for operators in Ireland or other Member States wishing to re-establish a sugar industry. This agreement has been welcomed by those who are interested in seeking to re-establish a sugar industry here.

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