IRELAND will not be exempted from the proposed cut of 40 per cent in the EU's total fish quota - the EU Commissioner on Fishery Policy, Ms Emma Bonino has told The Irish Times.
"I cannot multiply fish at the moment," she said. "Everyone agrees, but says `not me'."
She was in Dublin yesterday to address a forum on one of her other areas of responsibility, consumer policy. But she combined this with a meeting with the Irish Fishermen's Organisation.
She said the 40 per cent cut was still only a proposal, but there would have to be cuts and there would be no exemptions.
"There will be 13 proposals for the 13 member-states. No one will be particularly happy. There will be more detailed segmentation of the fleet. I have exempted small coastal fleets."
"The final goal is to make this sector economically viable. There are too many fishermen and not enough fish."
