This article is from page 12 of the 2008-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
CLARE County Council last night called on the Government to use it’s EU veto to block the progress of World Trade Organisation talks.
The local authority was address by Clare IFA President Michael Lynch, who claimed that the trade agree- ment, in it’s current form, would cost Ireland 100,000 jobs and destroy ru- ie Vu e-yweebneren
“If the Government used the veto we could sleep soundly at night. Whatever happens with Lisbon, what ever happens one way or another, if the WTO goes through in its current
form it will be the beginning of the end in terms of farming in Ireland,’ said Mr Lynch.
“It’s about getting a price for our product. If farmers cannot get a price they won’t be able to survive. We are the fourth largest exporter of beef in the world, the largest in Europe, if this goes through that will all be decimated.
“We are not saying to anyone how to vote on Lisbon. We are simply fighting a campaign and the WTO proposals are a death sentence.”
Mr Lynch was invited to address the meeting by Cllr Oliver Garry (FG).
“There is a huge investment going
on in farming in Ireland. The council know this, there is planning permis- sion for about 3,500 cattle units in at the moment. We have been pushing initiatives to try and get farmers to invest more in their land. But if this goes ahead, it will destroy that, it’s going to mean a €17 million loss to the county,” said Cllr Garry.
“T would like to appeal to Brendan Smith, but also to Tony Killeen to represent us on this to the very high- est level and also our MEP.”
Cllr Joe Arkins (FG), pointed out that the impact of the WTO will be felt far beyond the farming sector.
“WTO talks are not just an issue
about farming. It effects the total- ity of our industry. For every farmer there is a factory worker or someone in the services industry or a banker,’ he said.
‘‘A 70 per cent cut 1n the agriculture levy will be felt all the way to Dublin 4. Food is not going to get cheaper. Factories and importers will make huge profits by putting inferior prod- ucts on our shelves. This is not an ag- ricultural issue, it is an issue for the whole economy.”
Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) said that if the WTO policies are brought into effect then Clare farmers would not be able to compete.