Third farm organisation backs Lisbon Yes vote

Supporters of the Lisbon Treaty have received a further boost this morning following the decision of another leading farm organisation to back a Yes vote in next week's referendum.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association says its delegates made the decision by a narrow margin at a meeting last night.

The IFA and the ICMSA have already come out in support of a Yes vote, despite threatening to campaign against the treaty due to concerns about the EU's stance in world trade talks.

They made their decisions after Taoiseach Brian Cowen vowed to veto any WTO deal that could seriously hurt Irish farmers.