Fine Gael has called for a public inquiry into the circumstances under which 20 Irish fishing vessels have been given special licensing conditions.
The Fine Gael spokesman on the marine, Mr Michael Finucane, was responding to criticism of the move by the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation chief executive, Mr Joey Murrin. The 20 vessels, mainly from the south-west, have recently been allowed to catch both quota and non-quota species off the north-west coast under relaxed licensing rules approved by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods.
Mr Murrin has described the Minister's approval as "an act of treachery".
Seven of the 20 vessels have Spanish crews, and the decision will increase pressure on stocks in an area which is already heavily fished, he said.