EU Minister agree on fisheries deal

The European Union has thrashed out a deal for fishermen which will see the Irish and Celtic seas receive a special exemption from some of the most drastic cuts in fish quotas ever agreed by the European Union.

But Minister for the Marine, Dermot Ahern, has said the meeting failed to make any progress on the controversial issue of the Irish Box.

Last night five days of talks ended in Brussels, with an agreement on a 45% cut in cod catches next year.

The deal also limits the amount of time boats can spend at sea to just nine days per month, and will cost thousands of fishing jobs in the European industry.

The Irish and Celtics seas are exempt from the new regulations. The measures are aimed at conserving fish stocks which have dropped dangerously low in European waters.

Minister Dermot Ahern, has said the meeting failed to make any progress on the controversial issue of the Irish Box.

He said he would continue attempts to negotiate the issue. "We opposed very strongly the view that the Irish Box is no longer in being. Spain have a different view, there is different legal opinion in relation to it. We had people out here from the Attorney Generals office in relation to it who met with the Commission legal team and the Council legal team, but in effect no conclusion has been made in relation to that and we live to fight another day" he said.