Vol. 545 No. 3
33 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will report on all discussions he or his officials have held with the management, staff and trade union representatives of a company (details supplied) in relation to the dispute between beet farmers and that company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30144/01]
On 14 November a number of meetings were held in my Department with management of Greencore and Irish Sugar plc, in relation to the dispute between farmers and the company. Those meetings were held under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, Deputy Davern. Separate but parallel meetings were held with IFA delegations. I regret that agreement on the matter of price for this year's sugar beet crop could not be reached in the course of those meetings.
Subsequently it was agreed by both sides to engage in further talks chaired by an independent mediator. After four days of talks from 21 to 24 November the mediator reported that the talks had reached an impasse. I am very disappointed at that outcome.
The present position is that the Tánaiste and I met both sides yesterday. Various mechanisms for resolving the dispute were explored following detailed discussions, which went on late into the night. The Tánaiste and I put a proposal to both sides which we hope can provide a resolution to the current impasse. Both the IFA and Greencore have been asked to reflect on the proposal. Contact will be maintained with both sides. Neither I nor my officials have had meetings with staff or trade union representatives at the company.
