Four days of talks aimed at settling the ongoing dispute between Irish Sugar and the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), have broken down.
The Irish Sugar Company, which is a subsidiary of Greencore, has been involved in a two-week long dispute with beet farmers over pricing. The company was forced to stop production earlier this month when farmers refused to supply beet.
The former secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Paddy Teahon, who is acting as a mediator between the two parties described the situation as an ‘impasse’ and said he would be available for further talks next week.
The IFA is demanding that Irish Sugar pays an extra £1 per tonne for beet. Farmers say they are receiving 10 per cent less for their produce compared to last year.
A spokesman for Greencore plc said it was important that negotiations be continued. He told ireland.comthe dispute would not be settled until "a framework for future beet prices was agreed taking into account the objective criteria of international benchmarking."
IFA President Mr Tom Parlon who is expected to meet the Tánaiste Ms Harney on Monday to discuss the situation expressed disappointment that Greencore did not avail of the mediation process to find a solution.
Beet farmers will hold a meeting in Cahir, Co Tipperary, tomorrow to consider their next move.