Fine Gael believes EU membership is vital for Ireland’s economy, not just our development to date, but also for our future success.

Europe with Lisbon will be better able to face the many new challenges ahead such as increased globalisation, energy supply, climate change, and the rise of India and China as economic forces.

YES FOR JOBS

Ireland’s position as a committed and respected member of the EU has been pivotal to our economic development. It has given us direct access to a single market, now numbering 500million consumers. It has ended our economic dependence on Britain.

Ireland now exports 80% of its goods and services across the EU
In the last 10 years alone, Irish companies have doubled their exports into the EU from €44 billion to €87 billion.

Membership of the European Union has enabled Ireland to attract a very high share of Foreign Direct Investment. This is enhanced by our position as the only English speaking country in the Eurozone currency area.

There are currently 994 foreign companies* based here providing 140,000 jobs accounting for 85% of our manufacturing exports spending €15bn annually in the Irish economy and accounting for almost 50% of our corporation tax take. (approx. €3bn)

Ireland now hosts 7 of the world's top 10 ICT companies 15 of the world's top 25 medical device companies 9 of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

For these companies, Ireland is the gateway to the EU, the biggest market in the world.

Decades of EU investment in our key infrastructures (roads, telecommunications, public transport, energy) have helped modernise our economy, create jobs and prepare us for future challenges.

YES FOR RECOVERY

Ireland has been transformed since joining the European Union in 1973, receiving some €60bn in funding. For a generation, the European Union has been the key framework within which Ireland has developed economically, socially and politically:

In economically turbulent times, Ireland needs a stable relationship with the EU, not one in which we find ourselves marginalised in a key power-bloc.

Membership of the Eurozone and the stability of the European Central Bank has been invaluable in ensuring the survival of the Irish banking system, providing our banks with €120bn to prevent collapse.

As Ireland will retain its own tax policy, we will remain among one of the most attractive places in the world to invest.

The EU recently launched a €5 Billion Economic Recovery Plan designed to stimulate growth by backing key investment projects. Ireland will benefit significantly from this, particularly in the area of our green economy. We will have a far greater prospect of recovery if such initiatives can go ahead.

Green Economy

Europe will be central in developing an Irish green economy. By playing our part within the EU we realise the potential of developing renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. This means that Ireland can be at the forefront of the green economy which will safeguard our economic and social wellbeing in the coming decades.

Investment in research and development is the key to securing jobs for the future. Having access to €600m of EU research funding between now and 2013 will help keep Ireland to the forefront of the new economy.

The EU has been leading world efforts to reduce global green house gas emissions to tackle climate change and exploiting the new economic choices that come with this transition. This creates new new enterprise opportunities for Irish companies to pioneer new technologies and services to promote a low carbon economy.

Common Agricultural Policy

The Lisbon Treaty retains the objectives of the CAP - a fair standard of living for farmers, reasonable prices for consumers and market stability.

The Lisbon Treaty provides Ireland with a strong voice and influence to defend Irish agriculture both in the context of future reforms of CAP and in future trade negotiations.

The Irish farming and agri food industry has benefited from major EU funding, namely more than €41 billion from the CAP. The wider agri food sector accounts for more than 230,000 jobs. In the period from 2007-2013, Ireland can also expect to receive a further €12bn.

The passing of the Lisbon Treaty will mean that decisions of the Agriculture Council which are currently made in private will be made public.