Crowley defection means FF have no voice on Agriculture in Europe

Fine Gael TD for Kildare South and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has today (Wednesday) highlighted how Brian Crowley’s defection to the far right, euro sceptic European Conservative and Reformist Group will mean Fianna Fáil have no influence on vital agricultural issues.

“European policy is hugely influential to the agriculture sector in Ireland and strong, well-respected MEPs are vital to securing the best deal for Irish farmers.

“ The move of Brian Crowley to the ECR Group and the subsequent removal of the party whip, leaves Fianna Fáil with no voice in Europe and no influence on crucial EU decisions that impact directly on farming families and rural Ireland.

“In the recent European elections Brian Crowley, as a Fianna Fáil candidate, secured a massive first preference vote of over 180,000. These people are now represented by an MEP who is a member of a euro sceptic Group, many members of which oppose European policies.

“The work of effective, pro-Europe MEPs, during the recent CAP negotiations, resulted in securing €12.5 billion for Irish farmers, a huge achievement. This was made possible by effective use of our EU Presidency by Simon Coveney and by a lot of hard work from Fine Gael MEPs, such as Mairead McGuinness and Sean Kelly, as part of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest grouping in the EU.

“On a European level, representatives operate as part of their groups and not as part of the political party of which they are a member at home. It is therefore extremely important to be part of a progressive, challenging and proactive group which seeks and achieves real results on behalf of the people they represent.

“Farmers and the agriculture sector in general are hugely impacted by decisions made at a European level. Issues come up all the time that have an effect throughout Member Statea; the horsemeat crisis and pork issues are just two that spring to mind where effective, pro-European representation was vital.

“The impending removal of milk quotas means there are extremely important trade agreements coming down the line. As it stands, Fianna Fáil will be mute on this and other upcoming agricultural issues. As if it wasn’t bad enough to have only one European representative, now Fianna Fáil has none, and the party will have no influence on agricultural issues for the next five years.”