'Time to get the boot in' Laois farmer cuts loose on Irish whiskey and beer giants

A Ratheniska tillage farmer has aimed criticism at the makers of Jameson whiskey and Guinness over the price paid to Irish farmers for quality Irish raw materials while at the same time making big profits from drinks that rely on the Irish brand for sales.

Colm Fingleton challenged the big drinks businesses at the Irish Grain Growers AGM in Portlaoise which was attended by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

He said Irish Distillers are investing €250 million in the Midleton Distillery business in Co Cork while Diageo is spending €200 million in a new brewery in Newbridge, Co Kildare.

Mr Fingleton believes that while the businesses is investing vast sums in production, the producers of the key ingredients, the farmers, are not benefiting from any extra spending. 

“There is nothing that we can see in this that gives any commitment to growers to buy the grain for the plants,” he said at the meeting covered by the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Mr Fingleton highlighted the Midleton plant which makes Jameson, Powers, Redbreast and Midleton Very Rare whiskeys.

"They are using the Irish brand, our landscape and fields to brand their products as Irish-made," he said.

He also claimed that farmers are not seeing a dividend for providing the raw material that allows companies to make their products for consumers sustainably.

“Everyone is quite happy to use the Irish brand identity because it is hugely important. It gives them a green, low emissions and locally produced identity. That is a marketing brand,” he said.

Mr Fingleton also told the Minister that if they want more land in tillage farmers must be paid more especially with rising prices. He said that the industry must pay more.

He insisted that farmers who produce premium crops must be paid premium prices to compete for land.

“They are not going to get sustainability for nothing and that is where we are going to have to put the boot into the industry,” he said.

He took issue with the Tillage Vision Group for being 'soft on the industry'. He instanced their failure to provide information on the tonnage of grain being imported versus homegrown purchases despite given commitments.

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Minister Heydon said he had met farmers groups before industry representatives following his appointment. He said he would be meeting industry on an upcoming trade mission to the US in April which will allow him to highlight the 'very real' challenges farmers have.

"If they take the premium supplier for granted, they might not be there. We are at that pivotal point," he said.