Irish fishermen take EU to court in Luxembourg

A GROUP of 24 Irish fishermen are taking the European Commission to court this week over the refusal by Brussels to grant increased tonnage to trawler owners who carried out safety improvements to their vessels.

The European Court of Justice will hear details this week of the claims by the fishermen that the decision has cost them a combined total of over €40 million.

The fishermen are challenging a controversial decision by former Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner, Franz Fischler to refuse their application for increased tonnage which had resulted from carrying out safety and navigational improvements to their vessels.