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27/08/2009
IFA Launches Lisbon 'Yes' Campaign
A campaign to support a positive vote in the new Lisbon Treaty referendum has been launched by a farmers' group.
The Irish Farmers' Association President Padraig Walshe, who formally initiated the campaign in Dublin this morning, said the reasons farm families should back the Lisbon Referendum in October "are compelling".
The IFA had threatened to campaign for a No vote during the previous referendum due to a dispute over the European attitude toward the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Government's role in using its veto.
However, speaking this morning, Mr Walshe said it was now in farmers' best interests that Ireland remained "at the heart of Europe influencing important decisions", particularly the review of CAP subsidy payments after 2013.
"Farmers have unrestricted access to a market of 500 million people, and membership of the euro has provided low interest rates and is vital to maintaining economic stability.
"The Single Farm Payment contributes 60% of net farm income, and Irish farmers and the rural economy benefit significantly from the EU-funded REPS and Disadvantaged Areas scheme," he said.
The news comes only a day after the former IFA union chairman, James Reynolds, launched his own campaign to oppose the upcoming second Lisbon Treaty Referendum that will take place on 2nd October.
County Chairman and current Secretary of the Ballinalee Branch of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), James Reynolds, has set up the Farmers For No campaign, in a break away move.
The group is linked to concerns the treaty will affect inheritance laws to the detriment of the sector.
However, European Fianna Fail minister Brian Crowley rubbished the group's grievance, saying the inheritance claims were "baseless".
"Claims by the Farmers for No group that the Lisbon Treaty will affect Irish inheritance laws is a baseless allegation that has no foundation under the terms of the the Lisbon Treaty - The Lisbon Treaty does not give the EU any power whatsoever to introduce laws which could change Irish succession laws," Mr Crowely said.
Coincidently, budget airline Ryanair also today announced their support for a yes vote. A spokesman said Ryanair currently employs over 6,500 people – including citizens of all 26 EU countries – many of them in Ireland, and believes it is vital to Ireland’s economic development and future prosperity that the voters of Ireland give a "resounding Yes to Europe" in the referendum.
(DW/BMcC)
The Irish Farmers' Association President Padraig Walshe, who formally initiated the campaign in Dublin this morning, said the reasons farm families should back the Lisbon Referendum in October "are compelling".
The IFA had threatened to campaign for a No vote during the previous referendum due to a dispute over the European attitude toward the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Government's role in using its veto.
However, speaking this morning, Mr Walshe said it was now in farmers' best interests that Ireland remained "at the heart of Europe influencing important decisions", particularly the review of CAP subsidy payments after 2013.
"Farmers have unrestricted access to a market of 500 million people, and membership of the euro has provided low interest rates and is vital to maintaining economic stability.
"The Single Farm Payment contributes 60% of net farm income, and Irish farmers and the rural economy benefit significantly from the EU-funded REPS and Disadvantaged Areas scheme," he said.
The news comes only a day after the former IFA union chairman, James Reynolds, launched his own campaign to oppose the upcoming second Lisbon Treaty Referendum that will take place on 2nd October.
County Chairman and current Secretary of the Ballinalee Branch of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), James Reynolds, has set up the Farmers For No campaign, in a break away move.
The group is linked to concerns the treaty will affect inheritance laws to the detriment of the sector.
However, European Fianna Fail minister Brian Crowley rubbished the group's grievance, saying the inheritance claims were "baseless".
"Claims by the Farmers for No group that the Lisbon Treaty will affect Irish inheritance laws is a baseless allegation that has no foundation under the terms of the the Lisbon Treaty - The Lisbon Treaty does not give the EU any power whatsoever to introduce laws which could change Irish succession laws," Mr Crowely said.
Coincidently, budget airline Ryanair also today announced their support for a yes vote. A spokesman said Ryanair currently employs over 6,500 people – including citizens of all 26 EU countries – many of them in Ireland, and believes it is vital to Ireland’s economic development and future prosperity that the voters of Ireland give a "resounding Yes to Europe" in the referendum.
(DW/BMcC)
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