The Minister for the Marine has undertaken to give the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO) a detailed statement of policy on the granting of sea-fishing boat licences and to outline the criteria under which such licences are allocated.
The High Court was told yesterday that it had also been agreed that Department of the Marine officials will meet IFPO officials to receive representations on the Minister's policy and to consider IFPO proposals.
The settlement followed daylong talks in an action brought by the IFPO and by Mr William Oglesby, a fisherman of Bartra Heights, Killala, Co Mayo, against the Minister and the State. The action, which began on Tuesday, concerned the Minister's refusal to grant a licence to Mr Oglesby for fishing for mackerel and herring.