Fishing industry organisations have expressed disappointment at the decision by the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, to postpone a planned visit to Ireland until after the Nice Treaty referendum.
The European Commission confirmed yesterday that the visit, scheduled for next Thursday, September 19th, had been put back.
No new date had been fixed yet, a spokeswoman said, but the postponement was a "scheduling matter" that had been compounded by the recent German floods.
The decision was not linked to Ireland's forthcoming referendum, she said.
Commissioner Fischler is currently trying to steer through a controversial review of the Common Fisheries Policy which has been criticised as "simplistic" by this Government and by fishing industry organisations.
Fishing and farming representatives believe that he was advised to postpone his visit, as the Government is anxious to avoid unnecessary anti-EU debate before the referendum.
Mr Sean O'Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, said his members would be "very upset" if the Commissioner did not show up to hear the views of the industry here on his proposals for reform of the industry.
"There is an opportunity now for the Commission to gain some ground before the Nice referendum," Mr O'Donoghue said.
Mr Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation said his members were disappointed about the postponement.
"It is absolutely essential that Commissioner Fischler comes to Ireland," he said.
