PRESS RELEASE

FG vote ensures Irish Farmers will lose out

"Fine Gael MEP's should be made to explain their decision to vote against the interests of Irish farmers," said Deputy Billy Kelleher today. The Cork Deputy said that Fine Gael had refused to support Fianna Fáil MEP's to protect the farm family livelihoods when they voted to support a measure which will allow the European Parliament to have a significant say in CAP spending. "Fianna Fáil MEP's are aware of the importance of the agricultural industry to our country and economy and with that in mind they voted against this measure which they believe would have gone against the interests of Irish farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole," said Deputy Kelleher. "This measure means that the power of co-decision in the field of agricultural matters be extended to the European Parliament. This, is essence, would mean that the European Parliament would have equal power with the European Council with regard to the administration of CAP. At best this would make the administration of the CAP even more bound up with red tape - at worst it could spell the end of the family farm," he added. Fianna Fáil MEP's voted against this report because they felt that it would have led to greater bureaucracy with regard to the administration of the CAP. By doing this they were defending Irish farmers interests in Europe," said Deputy Kelleher. "Fianna Fáil is only too aware of the problems which Irish farmers face and have been addressing these issues. Fine Gael MEP's now seem to be more concerned with supporting their European allies then protecting the needs of Irish farmers, they should be made to explain their decision to vote against the needs of Irish farmers,"
concluded Deputy Kelleher.