This article is from page 26 of the 2009-09-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 26 JPG
CLARE leading lights such as Brian Lohan, Martin Donnelly and Fr Har- ry Bohan are just some of the people from the Banner lending their names to the Yes to Lisbon campaign.
Clare For Europe, a new independ- ent group of Clare men and women campaigning to ensuring a repeat of the Yes vote in Clare in the forthcom- ing referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, will launch its campaign tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Westpark Busi- ness Campus in Shannon.
Clare For Europe is comprised of leading figures from business, farm- ing, the arts and sport, who believe a Yes vote is in the best interests of this county and key to the future of WeemeO LUNN BAYA
Well-known names from across the county, including Brian Lohan, estate agent and former Clare hurl- ing star, leading Clare businessman Martin Donnelly, Managing Direc- tor of M. Donnelly and Co. Ltd, Fr Harry Bohan, long-time campaigner for rural development, Katie Verling, arts administrator, Michael Vaughan, hotelier, and the Clare leadership of the IFA are all throwing their weight behind the campaign.
Promising a vigorous campaign, Clare For Europe Co-ordinator, Michael McNamara, an unsuccessful candidate in this summer’s European election, said that this was a crucial time for the mid-west region and, in- deed for Ireland as a whole.
‘We need to vote Yes to secure jobs and our economic recovery,’ he said. “Being at the heart of Europe has been central to the development of Clare. Our main industries – agricul- ture, tourism and our manufacturing
base – are all dependent on us re- maining at the heart of Europe. Now more than ever, we need to build on the best partnership this country has ever had; our membership of the SOR
Clare was one of only nine con- stituencies that returned a Yes vote in the last Lisbon Treaty election in June 2008.
Meanwhile, European Movement Ireland, the organisation that ex- plains the work of the European Un- ion in a jargon-free way, launched its ‘Just the Facts’ campaign for the Lis- bon Treaty. By circulating a series of easy-to-read factsheets and hosting a range of events, this campaign aims to encourage a factual and balanced debate in the run up to the referen- dum, without telling people which way they should vote.
Andrea Pappin, Executive Direc- tor of European Movement Ireland, said, “I think we’re all tired of the shouting matches which were all too prevalent last year. This time, it’s es- sential we all get to grips on what we are being asked to vote on, and that means cutting through all the guff and getting to the real truths.”