Four of the State's main fishing industry organisations have appealed to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to intervene in the row over the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill.
A letter was sent to Mr Ahern this week seeking an urgent meeting by the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO), Irish South and West Fish Producers' Organisation, Irish South and East Fishermen's Organisation and the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation.
The organisations state in the letter that they are "appalled that some influential elements here in Ireland seek to represent our industry in the most negative possible light, without placing the problems we face in the proper context.
"This, we believe, runs the risk of this country leaving itself severely disadvantaged" and is "unnecessarily jeopardising" the industry.
Commenting on the initiative, Lorcán Ó Cinnéide of the IFPO criticised the "spin" emanating from certain quarters of officialdom. Mr Ó Cinnéide emphasised that any fraudulent activity within the industry would not be tolerated, and fishermen only wanted equal treatment. He said that they had been given no information into a Garda investigation into alleged illegal landings at Rossaveal, Co Galway, but "if there is a case which merits investigation, we fully accept this".
Apart from the Rossaveal allegations, which are at an "early stage of inquiry", the Garda said it is not involved in any new investigation into illegal landings. However, it is preparing responses to questions raised by the DPP in relation to a file sent to his office last year.
This related to the investigation initiated by Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey after a report was sent to the European Commission by Donegal fisherman Pat Cannon.
