Irish food industry supports Lisbon Treaty

Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII), the group that represents the Irish food industry, today came out in support of the Lisbon Treaty saying a yes vote will protect Ireland's "most important indigenous sector".

FDII Director Paul Kelly said: “As the only fully vertically integrated industry sector in Ireland we have to deal with all aspects of the supply chain from farm to fork. Thus, we are exposed to a vast array of food safety and consumer protection legislation, which is mostly European in origin.

"It is clear that the sector can only benefit from a treaty that will reform how decisions are made in the EU so that Europe can remain an engine for economic growth and prosperity.

"A yes vote is vital to protect Ireland's influence in Europe," he said.

"The food and drink industry is heavily dependent on exports and 73% of those exports go to the EU. We are now the largest net exporter of beef, lamb and dairy ingredients within the EU.

"The doubling in the size of the sector over the last 12 years is testimony to the benefits brought by the single market of 480 million consumers that the EU has created.

"The European Union has allowed the sector to grow in terms of absolute exports, market diversification, and given us the efficiencies of a large single market. The sector has reduced its historical dependence on the UK market and now has a structure that gives us the highest gross value added per employee in the EU."