Kenny warns of trade deal risk to Lisbon poll

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny said yesterday that he did not want the outcome of the Lisbon Treaty referendum decided by the outcome of the World Trade talks in Geneva on May 19th next.

"I have no doubt they are committed to the EU reform treaty, but they have no control over the way their members might act if a trade deal as envisaged goes through on May 19th," he said.

"What we do not want is a situation where the Irish referendum is decided on the outcome of a trade deal in Geneva," he said.

Mr Kenny criticised the Department of Agriculture for failing to provide its own analysis on the impact of a trade deal negotiated on the basis of Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson's concessions.

"I think the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, should be on an aircraft making the rounds of Europe not only pointing out the devastation such a deal will cause to Irish agriculture but to the rest of Europe as well," he said.

Mr Kenny said it was time for the EU to stand up and be clear and strong and not to be avoiding issues which were upsetting America.

Mr Kenny, was accompanied by former Belgian prime minister Wilfried Martens, president of the EPP, who said Mr Kenny would chair the EPP's ad hoc committee on agriculture.

A meeting of this body will take place on May 15th, before the planned WTO session in Geneva.

Mr Martens said at that meeting, the EPP and Fine Gael would establish their position bearing in mind the statement of very considerable importance made by Chancellor Angela Merkel that a WTO trade deal would require unanimity.

Mr Martens said the committee on agriculture would prepare a paper on the food security crisis which was a looming problem highlighted by the farm organisations.

Leinster MEP Maireád McGuinness said the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association had told them the rural vote would be against the Lisbon Treaty if a deal as envisaged was agreed in May.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep- farmers' Association has said the trade deal would determine the outcome of the treaty.

In turn the Irish Farmers' Association has said it will be very difficult to get farmers out to vote Yes in the event of the Mandelson deal going through.

Deputy Michael Creed, FG agriculture spokesman, said his motion in the Dáil to be debated tomorrow night called on the Government to do all it could to prevent the Mandelson deal going through.

Deputy Andy Doyle said no one had been able to explain to Ireland what was the quid pro quo for Ireland from the Mandelson deal.

Mr Kenny said the point had been made by the Irish farming organisations that if the deal went through, the people who would most suffer would be farmers in the 50 poorest countries in the world.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times