Claims Filipino fishermen will flood industry

HUNDREDS of illegal Filipino fishermen may be set to flood into the Irish industry as Britain plans to deport huge numbers believed to be working there illegally.

There are estimated to be about 1,800 Filipinos working on British and Irish registered vessels. Of those, 600 are believed to be working here. None of them have been issued with the work permits they require to operate legally in Ireland. They are arriving into Britain on transit visas issued by the British Embassy in Manila.

That allows them to travel through Britain to board a merchant ship. In reality they are either disappearing illegally onto Scottish and English fishing vessels not covered by the visa or being flown to Belfast and there travel across the border and put onto vessels operating around the Irish coastline.