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MEP Aylward lies, or at best is totally ignorant about FF support for Turkish accession
Libertas Ireland East candidate said 'Libertas are completely opposed to Turkish accession on economic grounds because it would undermine Irish workers and put downward pressure on CAP payments in one fell swoop. It would create a race to the bottom in working conditions and wages - and Irish workers would not benefit from this.
'It is a simple fact that FF, FG and Labour all support Turkish accession to the EU.'
More juice from Ireland East: Raymond O'Malley - Libertas
'Liam Aylward FF MEP from Kilkenny told untruths about FF position on recent KCLR programme 'On the Record' in a clash with Raymond O'Malley.
Aylward denied that FF supported Turkish accession even though its support is on the public record a number of times over the years.
KCLR96fm debate – During 'On the Record' Thursday 21 May 2009. It is on the CD record of section Section 6 / 12:55 – 13:17
Raymond O’Malley
‘We have to be extremely careful because we see there is a lot of talk about Turkish accession into the European Union. We know that Fine Gael, Fine Fail and Labour are in favour of that. That would add 80million more people with 80 million more problems to the European Union and it would add enormous pressure to Irish workers and enormous pressure on the Common Agricultural Policy.’
Liam Aylward
‘There is absolutely no question whatsoever of we being in favour of Turkey joining the European Union. Absolutely not, and it couldn’t happen anyway because we haven’t passed Lisbon.’
This statement by Aylward denying FF support for Turkish accession is absolutely untrue. It is simply a lie. It is FF policy to support Turkish accession, as it is for FG and Labour.
There is stacks of proof that it is Fianna Fail publicly stated policy to support Turkish accession to the EU:
The National Forum on Europe - Forum debates the case for Turkish Membership of the European Union -with Turkey's chief negotiator - debate on Turkish accession. Nov 2, 2006.
FF, FG and Labour in favour of Turkish accession.
Forum debates the case for Turkish Membership of the European Union -with Turkey's chief negotiator
Turkey’s Chief Negotiator in accession talks with the European Union, Minister Ali Babacan, has told the National Forum On Europe that Turkey is currently seeking ways with the Finnish Presidency of the EU to resolve the thorny issue of Cyprus.....
During the Forum session, the Minister for European Affairs, Noel Treacy TD, reiterated Ireland’s strong support for European Union enlargement and said that all aspiring countries should be granted equality of opportunity in relation to EU membership. However, on Cyprus which joined the EU in 2004, Minister Treacy insisted that the integrity of each Member State was “absolute and sacrosanct” and urged Turkey to open its ports to Cypriot vessels. Minister Treacy also felt that that legal reforms in Turkey were not being implemented as fast as they should.
Fine Gael’s Charlie Flanagan, while expressing concerns about human rights in Turkey, in particular the use of torture, said that Turkish membership was very much in the interest of the EU. “Our party firmly supports your entry”, he said, adding that he believed Turkish membership would help to fight the scourge of terrorism and to eradicate the “terrible trade” of people trafficking.
The Labour party’s spokesman, Joe Costello TD, said that Turkey had always been a bridge between East and West and that he believed it was time “we reached that bridge”. He believed that a “little bit of Euroscepticism” was understandable after the accession of ten Member States in 2004 and the imminent accession of Romania and Bulgaria in January 2007. Mr Costello cautioned Minister Babacan against undue pessimism facing into what could be a long accession process. “Ireland had to wait twelve years for accession,” he pointed out “And now they wouldn’t like us to leave.” He also voiced his party’s worries that workers in Turkey did not have the right to organise, strike or bargain collectively.
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Statement to the Dáil by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. on the outcome of the December European Council (14 and 15 December, 2006) on Wednesday, 7 February, 2007
Department of the Taoiseach - Statement to the Dáil by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. on the outcome of the December European Council (14 and 15 December, 2006) on Wednesday, 7 February, 2007
I attended the European Council in Brussels on 14 and 15 December 2006. I was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern T.D.
The conclusions of the European Council have been laid before the Houses.
While clearly this development marks a set-back for Turkey’s accession process, I remain confident that this accession will take place in due course. Nobody is predicting an early conclusion to the process. However, having met the Turkish leadership and having visited the country, I am convinced that Turkey has a true European vocation and is making the economic and political progress necessary for accession. Turkish accession in accordance with the requirements for membership which must be met by every applicant and, indeed, every existing Member State, will not only be in Turkey’s interest but the interest of Europe and the wider region.
Department of the Taoiseach
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It is FF policy to support Turkish accession:
The Minister [of Foreign Affairs] also stated that Ireland would be as helpful as possible regarding Turkey's desire to begin accession negotiations subject to certain criteria being met. - Bertie Ahern
Dil ireann - Volume 559 - 18 December, 2002 - Ceisteanna – Questions. - EU Summits.
Dil ireann - Volume 559 - 18 December, 2002 - Ceisteanna – Questions. - EU Summits.
It is Fine Gael policy to support Turkish accession.
“Coveney welcomes Turkish accession talks progress
December 17, 2004
Simon Coveney TD MEP, a member of the European Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee today welcomed the further progress towards the opening of formal accession talks with Turkey.
“Potential Turkish membership of the European Union is a subject that has resulted in much energetic debate within the European Parliament. The EPP Group, to which Fine Gael is affiliated, is literally split down the middle on whether Turkey should be offered European Union membership at any stage in the future” said Coveney.
“My position and the position of the Fine Gael group is quite clear in relation to Turkey. We support the recommendation that the European Union open formal accession talks with Turkey but we also insist that the European Union take a tough line in relation to insisting that Turkey makes all the necessary changes to meet the Copenhagen criteria in preparing itself for European Union membership”.
The basis of the Fine Gael position is as follows:
So in short, we recommend the opening of accession talks but with a tough approach being taken with Turkey in relation to the need for them to continue their reform process on human rights issues, the respect of minorities and the creation of a normalised European democracy” concluded Simon Coveney
:: simoncoveney.ie ::
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Originally Posted by Edo
