asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether at any time before or during the month of December, 1988 he became aware, formally or informally, in writing or orally, of any interest by Food Industries plc, or any of its officers, directors, employees or shareholders, or beneficial owners, or of any connected company, or any person acting on behalf of such persons, in acquiring some or all of the shares, business, assets or operations of the Irish Sugar Company, or its sugar quota, or in establishing any joint venture or project with the Irish Sugar Company; whether, he had any discussions or communications in relation to such matters at any time before January, 1989; and if so, to name the person or persons with whom he, or any person acting for him, had such discussions or communications and whether he will name such persons and the dates on which such discussions and communications occurred.
Written Answers. - Irish Sugar Company Shares.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 26 of February 28 1989. I would repeat that the Government have no plans to sell Irish Sugar plc or part of it to a private company or otherwise, and no such proposal has come before the Government. Any such disposal would represent a major change of policy and would require advance detailed and protracted examination by Government Departments and agencies. No such process was even commenced.
Subject to that, all information available to me from any group expressing interest, however tentative, in commercial arrangements with Siúicre Éireann was conveyed immediately by me to the Chairman of Siúicre Éireann in accordance with established procedures. These included communications from the Euro-Arab company, Jersey and Finn-Sugar plc. On 19 October, 1988, during the course of a meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive of Goodman International on export refunds and on other issues relevant to my Department, he mentioned in passing, the possibility that at some future date he might be interested in having discussions with Siúicre Éireann plc about the Thurles plant and other possibilities. I informed the Chairman of Siúicre Éireann about this tentative expression of interest. I also asked the chairman to keep me informed of all developments which might affect any emerging strategy of Siúicre Éireann. The first indication I had of any direct approach by Food Industries was when the Chairman of Siúicre Éireann gave me on 18 January, 1989 a copy of a letter which he received from the Chairman of Food Industries.
At no stage before January, 1989 was I involved in any discussions or communications with Food Industries in regard to any interest it may have in forming a commercial arrangement with Siúicre Éireann. Indeed the only communication I have had from Food Industries in this matter was a letter of 27 January, 1989.