asked the Minister for Finance when the proposed legislation for separating Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann and Erin Foods Limited will be introduced in the Dáil.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Company Legislation.
32.
The preparation of the proposed legislation relating to the food processing project is still in hands and I am not yet in a position to say when it is likely to be introduced in Dáil Éireann.
Would it be true to say that the situation now arises that the separation is being reconsidered, and that there is a possibility that the separation will not take place?
That would not be true. In fact, a great deal of action in pursuance of the decision to separate these two companies structurally has been given effect to.
The former Taoiseach promised that this legislation would come in within months.
I am concerned in the sense that the general manager of this company gave the issue of the separation of these companies as the reason for his resignation from the company, and there is a great deal of speculation as to the reason for the delay in the separation.
I do not think the former general manager has ever indicated the precise reason for his resignation. In fact, I doubt very much if the separation was the prime cause of his decision to resign. I do not think he has ever, at any stage, done more than say that he disagreed with the Government's policy on the future of the Erin Foods organisation.