Agriculture Committee to visit St James’ Gate facility

Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Our Committee looks forward to viewing first-hand a facility at the cutting edge of Ireland’s booming food and drink industry.

“While the iconic site is intrinsically linked with Dublin city, the St James’ Gate Brewery has a longstanding relationship with Irish agriculture and is a very significant driver of the economy in rural areas. Diageo purchases 13 percent of Ireland’s barley harvest annually.  We will hear from Diageo representatives on how their operations at St James’ Gate and other centres impact on Irish agriculture. Baileys production for instance requires 275 million litres of Irish milk annually.

“The Committee is particularly interested in the impact for Irish agriculture of the planned €150 million expansion. The expansion will play a vital role in Diageo’s strategy to grow exports to emerging markets. The morning’s visit will include a presentation from Diageo on its socio-economic impact on the Irish economy, its contribution to the food and drink sector and its agricultural purchasing strategy.”

Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie

Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
 
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan