Coveney vows to act on trawler exploitation

Simon Coveney has promised to take “immediate action” during the first meeting of the taskforce examining allegations around the treatment of workers on Irish fishing trawlers.

The marine minister chaired the first interdepartmental meeting yesterday during which it was agreed to produce a co-ordinated response to the allegations of exploitation.

A Guardian report on Monday claimed African and Asian illegal migrant workers are regularly used on board some Irish fishing vessels and these workers, work long hours and are paid a fraction of the local rate.