Simon Coveney wants EU fishery cuts eased in

With fishermen warning of a 45% cut in their income and the loss of 600 jobs if proposed cuts go ahead, Fisheries Minister Simon Coveney is hoping to gradually introduce the cuts over three years.

However, environmental group Greenpeace warns small fishermen are being forced out of work because of the way governments are handling fish quotas.

Mr Coveney met several of his colleagues from other EU countries yesterday in a bid to get their support for his proposals on the amount of fish the Irish industry should be allowed to catch over the coming year.