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MEPs seek to soothe fishermen’s fury against Lisbon (27th August, 2009)

August 27, 2009 at 10:40 am Leave a comment

Concerns raised by Irish fishermen over EU fishing policy are to be addressed in a special submission being prepared for Brussels by three Irish Fianna Fáil MEPs. Munster MEP Brian Crowley along with party colleagues Liam Aylward and former Marine Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher have announced they are working on a comprehensive plan to protect and improve the operation of the Irish fishing industry.
The MEPs were responding to an angry meeting of the South-west branch of the Irish Fishermen’s Organisation which was held in Cork last week. Speaking at the meeting, Regional Chairman Ebbie Sheehan said the IFO would again lobby for a ‘No’ vote in the Lisbon referendum. He claimed EU fishing policies were decimating the Irish fishing industry by favouring non-EU imports and fleets from larger European countries.
In response, Mr Crowley said he recognised the need to ‘radically reform’ EU fishing policy, but he insisted Irish fishing groups must be ‘centrally involved’ in the reform process. He also warned against a ‘No’ vote to Lisbon, claiming ‘Ireland must negotiate the reform of EU fishing policy from a position of strength and not from a position of weakness.’
The submission being drafted by the Irish MEPs will be lodged with EU Fisheries Commissioner Jo Borg, as part of a public consultation aimed at reforming the EU fishing policy post 2013.

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