New fishing legislation causing divisions within Govt

Legislation to implement EU fishing policy into Irish law appears to be creating divisions with the Irish Government.

The bill was introduced in the Dáil yesterday, but a number of Fianna Fáil politicians are backing opposition to the legislation from the fishing community.

The minister and junior minister at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources are believed to be at odds in relation to the new law.

Fianna Fáil TD Noel O'Flynn, meanwhile, has claimed the level of fines for breaching fishing rules are far in excess of those in other European countries and have caused concern among a number of backbenchers.

"The bill is draconian, it's disproportionate and when I took the bill and discussed it in Brussels last week, EU MEPs from the fisheries committee were appalled at some of the provisions included in it," he said.