Vol. 512 No. 6
156 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the commercial opportunities which exist for ethanol production will require an increase in sugar beet quotas; and the plans, if any, he has in this regard. [26851/99]
The commercial opportunities for a proposed ethanol production facility are currently being assessed by Irish Sugar plc. and my Department is fully supportive of the company in this evaluation study. The establish ment of a viable ethanol enterprise would have many benefits from an environmental point of view, as an outlet for non-food crops, would also provide additional market outlets for sugar beet and would contribute to renewable energy production. Sugar beet grown for ethanol production would not be part of the EU sugar regime, under which the national sugar quota is established.
