ONE month after causing a storm of protest over proposed cuts in the European fishing fleet, the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Ms Emma Bonino, declined to be interviewed in Dublin Castle yesterday, writes Lorna Siggins.
The Commissioner had received "too much bad press" over an issue which was regarded as "too sensitive", according to Commission sources.
Ireland has voiced its opposition to the proposed cuts of up to 40 per cent. But the Commissioner held a "highly positive and constructive" bilateral meeting on fisheries issues yesterday morning, according to the Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett.
The safety aspect of proposed cuts in tonnage was emphasised by the Minister, who is said to have made the case for a more flexible approach by the European Commission to modernisation of fishing vessels, given the age profile of the Irish fleet.
The Commissioner has indicated that no exception will be made for coastal states such as Ireland in the plan to have fewer, larger fishing vessels.
She received a stormy reception in Britain earlier this year, when she laid the blame for problems such as quota management and flagships on member governments.
At a recent EU seminar in Brittany, Commissioner Bonino laid down two main policy objectives conservation of resources by reduction of fleet capacity, with no exceptions, and liberalisation of fish marketing to secure fish supplies' for Europe's processors and consumers.
The fisheries sector would be cut back and moves with the need by processing companies. Skipper owners in the whitefish sector would be redeployed ashore in processing and marketing, she indicated.
Such a policy is perceived to be at odds with the Irish presidency goal of employment, and the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation has criticised the Government for failing to make reform of the EU policy a priority.