This article is from page 34 of the 2008-06-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
AFTER months of posturing and talking a good game, the IFA did what most presumed they would eventually do on Tuesday by pledging their support to the Lisbon Treaty.
After playing politics right up to the June 3 deadline, IFA President Pad- raig Walshe pulled off a major coup by forcing Taoiseach Brian Cowen to go public on his intention to veto a WTO deal that would be considered bad for Irish farmer.
The week started with the ICMSA claiming to have received “ironclad assurances” from Cowen on world trade and throwing their lot behind
the Yes campaign.
The news was warmly welcomed by Clare TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Tony Killeen. “This deal is in the best in- terests of Irish farmers and the wider agri-food sector,’ he said.
‘Membership of the EU has being undeniably good for Irish farmers over the past 35 years. Ratifying the Lisbon Reform Treaty would dem- onstrate Ireland’s consistent com- mitment to a strong and effective European Union and would help us to secure the support of key EU part- ners and to build strategic alliances on major issues to this country and, not least, to Irish farmers.”
Fellow Clare TD Timmy Dooley (FF) echoed Killeen’s comments
“I fully welcome the decision of the Irish Farmers Association who have called for a Yes vote for the EU Lisbon Reform Treaty,” said Dooley who is the vice chair of the Joint O1- reachtas Committee for European Affairs. “I believe that it is always in the best interests of Irish agriculture that we address issues of concern to our farmers from a negotiating posi- tion of strength and not from a nego- tiating position of weakness.”
Reacting to the news, Libertas Ex- ecutive Director Naoise Nunn said that the news was disappointing, but totally to be expected.
On Thursday the ICSA voted by a majority of 59 per cent to 41 per cent in favour of recommending a yes vote.
Meanwhile, the bridge building ahead of the WTO continued apace this week with Agriculture minister Brendan Smith meeting to discuss matters with Polish Secretary of State, Andrzej Dycha.
“It is clear that both member states have a shared sense of disquiet about some of the proposals currently on the table and that we are determined to make all efforts to ensure that the outcome of the negotiations does not undermine the future of the CAP,” said Minister Smith.