Sean Kelly MEP is to meet Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos to discuss solutions to the botched reform of the Irish sugar sector. Mr Kelly, who has been in talks with numerous stakeholders in Mallow and beyond, wrote to the Commissioner in December to request the meeting. Mr Kelly would like other Irish MEPs, public representatives, farm and industry representatives to attend the meeting as well.
“The fact that the European Union is only 85 per cent self-sufficient in sugar highlights a huge commercial opportunity in the agri-food sector and one I will continue to pursue at European level,” Mr Kelly continued.
“At a time of austerity and mass unemployment, an investment in a new biofuel plant with sugar beet as a feedstock would provide a major employment opportunity in Ireland. We must look to opportunities such as Wissington in Norfolk, where the European Investment Bank invested €120 million in a similar project to inspire our own sugar beet revival” Sean Kelly MEP declared .
“Bioethanol represents an opportunity for growth especially in context of EU 2020 targets. We must develop domestic supply within the EU and not rely on expensive Brazilian imports. Therefore there is a clear market demand which Ireland can once again supply. These are issues I will raise in greater details with Commissioner Cioloş in the coming weeks.”