From the Ploughing Championships

Statement by David Thompson, spokesman of 'Farmers for No', who was speaking from the Ploughing Championships in Kildare today:

‘Agriculture under the leadership of Padraig Walsh, and the whole country under the leadership of Brian Cowen are on its knees. Yet both these people who led farmers to such dire financial circumstances today both advocate a Yes vote.

‘A Yes vote for Lisbon will half Ireland’s vote at the crucial Council of Ministers, and Farmers for NO hold this will damage Ireland’s negotiating strength.

‘It is quite clear from article 207 of Lisbon itself that Ireland also loses its WTO veto. To allow this to happen would help crucify Irish farmers on the untrammelled global market and be detrimental for farm families.

‘Only a no vote to Lisbon can prevent Turkey’s proposed entry into the EU. If it were allowed to go ahead - CAP payments would be decimated and this has no benefits for Irish farmers whatsoever.

‘If Farmers vote NO, we still remain full and committed members of the EU. We’ve got a democratic deficit and a budget deficit; we’ve got to get rid of both. The quickest way to get rid of this anti-Farmer government is to vote No to Lisbon and force Cowen into the knackers field.
Unless we get rid of both Cowen and the Lisbon Treaty, the fate of the fishermen, the beet growers, and the turf cutters awaits Irish farmers.

Farmers must send this Treaty to the historical dustbin to save Irish negotiating strength, and democratic accountability from a corrupt elite who would sell their grandmothers to the highest bidder if they thought they could profit from it.