Pernod Ricard, the parent of Irish Distillers Group (IDG), has announced a 22 per cent increase in sales, excluding duty and taxes, to #4.4 billion (£3.5 billion) last year, with a strong performance coming from its Irish operations.

Although the group does not break down figures for its Irish division, the company's joint managing director, Mr Richard Burrows, said IDG had a "tremendously strong year" both in its home market and abroad.

Jameson whiskey, one of the company's leading brands, saw a 7 per cent increase in sales despite a six-month impact from the loss of duty free.

If this were factored out, sales would have been up by 10 per cent.

Jameson performed very well in France, where sales rose by 25 per cent, in Britain and the US while sales in Spain were up by 34 per cent.

However, another of the company's whiskey brands, Bushmills, saw sales drop by 10 per cent over the course of the year.

Mr Burrows said this was due to the effect of the loss of duty free and a destocking effect caused by the impending change of importer in the US.

"Consumer sales remain at a satisfactory level," Pernod said.

The company's wholesale distribution operation in Ireland and Britain, BWG, also turned in a strong performance with sales rising by 35 per cent.

BWG, which holds the franchise for Spar in the Republic, has been earmarked for sale as Pernod undertakes the disposal of non-core assets.

However, Mr Burrows said no decision on the sale process had been taken yet.