Blame game started early

IF IFA hadn’t raised the world trade issue in the run-up to the Lisbon Treaty vote, the no lobby would have gone to town on it, and stirred up even greater fear of the EU among farmers and the food industry.

Many farmers could easily have been persuaded to vote no — rather than say yes to improved decision making in a European Union which was willing in world trade talks to give away 50,000 Irish jobs in food manufacturing and services, and put 50,000 Irish farmers out of business.

On the other hand, raising the issue may have re-awakened anti-farmer feelings among those who saw IFA’s pre-Lisbon demands as a form of blackmail, and that may have helped the no side. Faced with this dilemma, IFA sought assurance from the Government — in early April — that it would use its veto in an EU Council to defeat the trade proposals.