Minister content with EU fishing decision

Minister for the Marine Pat "the Cope" Gallagher has said he is happy with the outcome of overnight negotiations on EU fish quotas for next year.

Mr Gallagher expressed some concern about a cut in mackerel quotas but said Irish fishermen were compensated in other areas.

"Overall, there's been very little reduction in the quantity of fish for the Irish sector," he said.

Earlier today, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation gave a cautious reaction to the outcome of the talks, which saw EU ministers abandon a plan to outlaw all cod fishing in parts of the Irish Sea, the North Sea and west of Scotland.

The Irish Fishermen’s Organisation, has also reacted cautiously, saying the fishing community would probably suffer in the short term, but accepted that this was necessary to protect future fish stocks.