Co-operative calls for Yes vote

FARM GROUP:THE AGRICULTURAL co-operative movement Icos has called for a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Icos president Patrick McLoughlin said he was urging the agriculture sector and all other voters to vote Yes to ensure that Ireland would continue to be a central player in the European Union.

The society represents more than 150 co-operative businesses and organisations with 150,000 individual members and 12,000 employees in Ireland.

Mr McLoughlin said the treaty provided the necessary changes to allow the EU of 27 member states to operate more effectively.

“Ireland’s interests in discussions on the Common Agriculture Policy can be best pursued only if we are fully engaged and committed to the European process,” he said.

In the next few years, the EU will begin formulating the future shape of the Common Agriculture Policy and its budget from 2014.

Mr McLoughlin said other reasons for supporting the Lisbon Treaty included the fact that Irish MEPs would “have equal decision-making power on agricultural issues” and that “Ireland will retain its right to have a European commissioner”.