THE IRISH Farmers’ Association (IFA) has urged farmers to vote Yes in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty to protect their incomes in the years ahead.
IFA president Pádraig Walshe said yesterday that the reasons for farm families to vote Yes were compelling.
“Farmers have unrestricted access to a market of 500 million people and membership of the euro zone has provided low interest rates and is vital to maintaining economic stability.
“The single farm payment contributes 60 per cent of net farm income and Irish farmers and the rural economy benefit significantly from EU-funded Reps and disadvantaged areas scheme,” said Mr Walshe.
He added that while farmers had suffered because of actions taken by the Government, they should differentiate between their anger at such bad decisions and the benefits entailed in voting Yes to the Lisbon Treaty.
“It is in farmers’ best interests that Ireland remains at the heart of Europe, influencing important decisions, particularly the review of CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] payments after 2013, and does not become a reluctant bystander on the fringe of events.
“A Yes vote will best position the IFA to defend the interests of Irish agriculture and meet future challenges in Europe,” he said.
Mr Walshe said full EU membership was the key to Ireland’s success in attracting foreign direct investment, providing jobs and creating opportunities for Irish farm families.
Stressing the importance of farming for the whole economy he pointed out that the net annual inflow from the EU for farming was €1.8 billion.
“For every euro of that, 70 cent is spent in Ireland. Contrast that with the pharmaceutical industry, where from every euro earned just 11 cent goes into the Irish economy due to the repatriation of profits and other factors,” he said.
“IFA is encouraging farm families and rural Ireland to vote Yes and we will be mounting an active campaign in the run-up to the October vote. We will be contacting our 85,000 members directly and using our presence at the ploughing championships in Athy next month to push for a Yes vote,” said Mr Walshe.
The Farmers for No group later criticised the IFA position and said that the Lisbon Treaty would transfer power from the Irish people to EU institutions.
David Thompson, the Limerick IFA vice-chairman and spokesman for the group, said that if Lisbon was passed, Ireland’s voting weight at the EU Council of Ministers would be reduced.
“How can the IFA think that losing voting strength will help Ireland’s negotiating strength going forward?” he asked.
The Referendum Commission launched a campaign yesterday urging people who are not on the register of voters to claim their vote before the October 2nd referendum.
Meanwhile, the European Movement Ireland has produced a series of 20 fact sheets explaining the Lisbon Treaty, which have been sent to local radio stations, national media and other organisations.
