The Federation of Irish Fishermen has given a cautious welcome to the emergency measures announced yesterday to aid the EU fishing industry, but warned the proposal has not yet been agreed and does not provide for extra expenditure FIF says is vital to implement emergency aid
The FIF said it welcomed the EU's acceptance that many of the elements which it has already identified, including short term tie-up aid, are necessary. However, the federation said a series of measures had to be agreed and implemented within days rather than weeks.
"We welcome the ministers' meeting today with Commissioner Borg at which all our issues were impressed on him", said FIF Chairman Michael Walsh.
"We are stressing that the that a series of immediate measures including tie-up aid must be agreed in Luxembourg early next week by the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers and that the Irish government's package, including additional funding - from whatever source - must in turn be announced before the end of next week. This was the timetable we were promised and this is the timetable that must be delivered."
The FIF is planning to hold talks with ministers before next week's Luxembourg council. It is also pressing for action on domestic issues, such as administrative sanctions for minor fisheries offences, the operations of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the commencement of work on the Industry/Science Partnership and Marketing Initiative with the Marine Institute and BIM respectively.