A delegation of beet growers and workers from the soon-to-be-closed Mallow sugar beet factory in Co Cork will meet with the Taoiseach at Government buildings just after noon today.
The meeting is being organised by TD Ned O'Keefe and will not include representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association or SIPTU, which represents many of the 320 full- and part-time staff at the plant.
The closure of the plant was announced two weeks ago and it will cease processing in May.
The owners of the plant, Greencore decided to close the factory following a decision by the EU to reform the sugar industry.
An estimated 3,700 sugar beet growers are going to be affected by the decision, according to the IFA. Today's meeting is seen as one of the first steps in what is likely to be a fierce struggle between the unions and Greencore for the larger share of the €145 million restructuring fund put in place by the EU for the Republic.
Both sides claim they are entitled to the vast majority of this payout.
The procedures what will have to be followed will be announced by Brussels and with the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan having until July 1 stto decide on the allocations.
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