Fishing industry demands fair deal

CONCERNED fishing industry leaders yesterday urged the Irish ministerial delegation to walk out of next week’s crucial EU quota talks if this country is not given fair treatment.

The industry’s message to Marine Minister Dermot Ahern is, simply, “no deal is better than a bad deal”.

Fishing ports throughout the country came to a standstill yesterday in a protest by the industry. Local businesses closed down and rural communities, such as farmer groups, joined thousands of seafood industry workers in peaceful demonstrations.