Irish Whiskey, Poitín, and Cream Spirit drinks have been afforded "Geographical Indications" (GI) status, which means spirit drinks labelled as "Irish" must be produced in Ireland in accordance with strict technical specifications notified to European Commission.

The designations apply on an all-Ireland basis and cannot be used on products manufactured elsewhere in the EU.

However, farmers will be disappointed to hear that while strict regulations require the product to be manufactured in Ireland to rigorous technical specifications, there is absolutely no reference to the provenance of the grain used.

There would have been an expectation, particularly among malt barley growers, that some statement of the long tradition of use of domestic grain in the production of Irish whiskey would have been mentioned. Indeed, Ireland has been exporting malt for spirit production for centuries.

Coveney praised the new regulations, saying they provide "critically important protection for Irish companies in the developing Irish spirit drinks sector, which has ambitious plans to establish a number of new distilleries to meet the growing demand worldwide."

"Three years ago, the island of Ireland had four distilleries in operation – in the next three years that number could grow to over 20," he said. "I am confident that this success can be replicated in other spirit drinks products.”

Within the last decade Irish Whiskey exports grew by almost 200% and the sector employs over 750 people.

In 2014 close to 7 million cases of Irish whiskey were exported to over 100 countries. Coveney said this number is set to increase to 12 million cases by 2020 and 24 million cases by 2030.