Two leading fishing industry organisations have decided to call for a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty referendum, after several months of deliberation.
The Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation in Donegal and the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation in Castletownbere, Co Cork, have said they are "fully aware of the total disillusionment" within the industry over the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). However, they said that a Yes vote would strengthen Ireland's hand in the formal negotiations on the policy's review.
The policy review is due to be completed by December, and the industry had hoped to meet the Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Franz Fischler, last month.
However, the commissioner cancelled his visit, amid speculation that he had been advised not to travel here in advance of the referendum.
The Commission's office denied this was the case.
Mr Seán O'Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs organisation, and Mr Jason Whooley, chief executive of the Castletownbere group, said they were advocating a Yes vote based on two critical factors.
The first was a restatement by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern, of the Government's commitment to the CFP reform and, secondly, his acceptance of the "fundamental concerns of the Irish fishing industry".
