IFA RESPONSE:THE IRISH Farmers Association has rejected claims by Fianna Fáil politicians that farmers who have benefited financially from the EU should rethink their opposition to the Lisbon Treaty.
Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West Frank Fahey said this week the IFA was being “foolhardy” in threatening to withhold support for the treaty, when “some €41 billion has gone into farmers’ pockets” since EU accession.
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív also criticised the “negative lever” farming organisations were using in relation to the World Trade Organisation talks.
However, IFA Connacht vice-president Michael Silke took issue with the comments, saying that Irish farmers “have not received anything more from Europe than other European farmers”.
Mr Silke added: “The Government needs to address the concerns in rural Ireland over [Peter] Mandelson’s sell-out of agriculture in the WTO negotiations.
“The western region alone would face farm revenue losses of €400 million a year, with 1,500 jobs in food processing on the line and thousands more jobs lost in businesses servicing the agri-food sector. Farmers need to hear a clear statement by the Government that Ireland will veto the Mandelson cuts.”
