Government to ask EU for more fishing sector funding

THE Government will tell the EU it wants more money for the Irish fishing industry when EU Fisheries Ministers meet today.

Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has already offered to contribute up to 60% of funding for measures to alleviate the hardship fishermen are suffering because of high fuel prices.

However, Fisheries Minister Brendan Smith and Minister of State Tony Killeen will tell the Commissioner that the European Fisheries Fund should contribute more, if not the full amount, rather than ask national government to pay a share.