Progressive Democrats deputy Fiona O'Malley has said she is "disappointed" at comments by Minister of State for the Marine Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, who has criticised her party's new policy towards driftnet salmon fishing.
Fianna Fáil's Mr Gallagher is highly critical of the Progressive Democrats after they launched a policy calling for an outright ban on driftnet fishing for salmon, and a compulsory compensation scheme for affected fishermen.
Mr Gallagher, a Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal South West, accused the PDs of failing to carry out a comprehensive consultation with interest groups and experts before writing the report, which was published last week.
"The first I heard about the report being prepared by the PDs was when it landed on my desk in Leeson Lane last week," he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland yesterday.
"I cannot see how any responsible party could prepare a report without engaging in discussions with all the interested groups."
He said the party did not attend hearings earlier this year on the issue in the Oireachtas.
"It would have been very wise to have been represented, and they weren't even there," he said.
The hearings were held by a sub-committee of the Oireachtas Committee on the Marine chaired by Fianna Fáil TD Noel O'Flynn.
It is to recommend a voluntary buy-out scheme for the fishermen in a report being published today.
The report is now expected to lead to a Government U-turn on the issue as Mr Gallagher and the Government have to date refused to introduce a buy-out scheme.
Yesterday Ms O'Malley denied that her party were latecomers to the debate, and said she was disappointed with Mr Gallagher's comments.
She said he was "particularly sensitive" to the issue because of the number of driftnet fishermen in his Donegal South West constituency.
"I do also recognise that Pat "the Cope" Gallagher has a constituency issue that he has to deal with. But, more importantly, he is a Minister, and therefore he has to take the national policy on board.
"What is important is that the long-term salmon stock is preserved, and that's what needs to be looked at, I think."
She said her party has had a policy against driftnetting since 1999, and the reason the PDs had no representation at the Oireachtas committee was because the party had no member on the marine committee.
Ms O'Malley, who said last week she would be willing to vote against the Government on the issue in the Dáil, said yesterday that there was no vote planned, and she did not expect such a vote to arise.
"I'm sure an accommodation will be reached," she said.