Members of the farming and agribusiness communities gathered in Dublin this morning to call for a Yes vote in the upcoming Fiscal treaty referendum.
Representatives of groups including the Irish Farmers' Association and Macra na Ferime and executives from companies such as Glanbia, Connacht Gold and Kepak said that ratifying the treaty would be vital in ensuring Ireland maintained its influence at EU level.
"Full membership of the EU and a stable euro are vital components for the success of our sector," IFA president John Bryan said.
"We see a Yes vote as very important at this stage as it is a critical time for Ireland and a critical time for Europe. The fact that Ireland is the only country holding a referendum means that a strong Yes vote would send a strong vote of confidence in the EU and for Irish membership."
Mr Bryan said that EU membership had provided Ireland a market of some 500 million people to export into as well as considerable support for farmers through the Common Agricultural Policy, negotiations on the future of which are to intensify over the coming 12 months.
He said a strong Yes vote in the May 31st referendum would strengthen Ireland's hand with regard to those negotiations. He said farmers across the country had been consulted by the IFA before it took a stance on the treaty and that IFA members were keen to show Ireland was intent on staying at the centre of EU policy.
John Horgan, managing director of meat and convenience food business Kepak, said a strong euro was vital in ensuring that lending and stable exchange rates were on offer to Irish businesses and exporters.
Mr Horgan said the treaty, which obliges member states to keep budget deficits and public debts within tight limits, sought to ensure good housekeeping with regard to exchequer funding. He said the uncertain financial situation in Europe might not have developed had such rules been enshrined in EU legislation at an earlier stage.
John Maloney of Glanbia, which processes some 30 per cent of Irish dairy output, said the abolition of dairy quotas in 2015 presented a "unique opportunity" and that it was "critical we have a stable currency base to maximise our competitive position".
"While the treaty will not resolve all the country's financial problems, we recognise that it is essential to remain at the heart of Europe in working towards a satisfactory outcome for the country's future and for the development of the Common Agricultural Policy," he said.
Separately, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association said it would be calling on its members to vote Yes in the referendum.
"Many distortions of the facts and the purpose of the treaty will be put before the electorate between now and voting day on May 31st," association president John Comer said.
"However, none of these should hide the essential choice to be made which is that we either vote 'Yes' and rebuild our economy and our economic future jointly and with the help of our European partners, or we set ourselves adrift as a small open economy with an unsustainable debt level regardless of the cause or origin of that debt."
