Irish Distillers (IDG) will no longer publish its detailed financial results and the figures from the Irish subsidiary are now included in the results of the parent company Pernod Ricard. A spokesman for IDG said the decision to cease publishing IDG detailed results had been taken by Pernod Ricard in Paris.

In a statement with Pernod Ricard's results, IDG chief executive, Mr Richard Burrows, said Jameson retained its position as the fastest growing spirits brand in the world last year, with strong growth in southern Europe, Australia and South Africa, while retaining its position in core markets such as France and the US. Pernod Ricard reported net profits of €202 million (£159 million) last year compared to €206 million in 1997. When exceptional gains in 1997 are excluded, net profits were 9.3 per cent higher in 1998. Operating profits rose by 8 per cent to €349 million (£275 million) on sales of €3.14 billion (£2.47 billion).