Grootste Ierse boerenorganisatie adviseert leden 'JA' te stemmen in referendum over Verdrag van Lissabon (en)
Ireland's biggest farmers' group on Tuesday (3 June) said it would encourage its members to vote in favour of the EU Lisbon treaty in a referendum on 12 June, with the decision expected to boost the "yes" side's result.
"It is the unanimous agreement of the [Irish Farmers Association executive] council that we are prepared to support a 'yes' vote and we will be writing to all our members to explain the situation to them," IFA president Padraig Walshe was reported as saying by press agencies.
"Farmers are traditionally good people to vote and we will be doing all we can to encourage them to come out and we will be devising a strategy to cover the next 10 days," he added, according to the Irish Times.
The IFA decision is seen as crucial, as polls have been indicating a narrow gap between the "yes" and "no" supporters, and the agricultural sector is still an important part of Irish society. The IFA represents 85,000 farming families engaged in agricultural activity.
The farmers' backing came after Irish prime minister Brian Cowen indicated he would veto EU approval of any world trade deal that would go against their interests.
Thousands of farmers protested in April against international trade talks, fearing they would lead to a liberalisation deal that would make imports cheaper and lead to massive jobs losses.
The IFA then threatened to link the issue to the forthcoming referendum, with Mr Walshe saying: "Sell us out and we will have our say on the 12th of June."
Ireland is the only country to hold a referendum on the EU's new treaty set to replace the failed EU constitution, which French and Dutch voters rejected in 2005.
A poll last month showed the gap was narrowing between those who plan to vote in favour of the document – some 41 percent, and those who reject it – 33 percent.
The poll also indicated a significant part of the population remained undecided. Turnout is expected to be crucial in the referendum, with a low voter show set to give the upper hand to the "no" camp.