Greens: 'Scallop fishermen holding Govt to ransom'
The Green Party spokesperson on the Marine, Eamon Ryan, is accusing scallop fishermen in the south-east of holding the Government to ransom.
The fishermen have said that, unless the Government comes up with a solution by 5pm today, they will restart their blockade of Rosslare Harbour.
Joe Maddock, Chair of the Irish Fishermen's Organisation, said the fishermen want the Government to provide compensation for larger vessels to be decommissioned.
They are demanding larger fishing quotas or compensation for tying up their vessels, as the enforcement of EU regulations will mean they are able to go to sea for only 60 days a year.
The fishermen claim this will make scallop-fishing unviable but Deputy Ryan has pointed out they need to accept that our waters are already over-fished.
Mr Ryan said that this issue “has to be resolved on a Europe-wide basis because this relates to our neighbours in France and England who are also chasing after the same catch, and it has to involve negotiations with the department.
"But negotiations can’t work effectively when it’s on the point of a threat of a strike.”
