The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources has said he is "sympathetic" to the claims made by fishing industry representatives about compensation for lost earnings due to many weeks of bad weather.
But Dr Woods has asked industry representatives for substantiated figures to allow him make a case to the European Commission. Speaking after the first of two days of discussions with the industry in Dublin yesterday, Dr Woods said he could not accept there was a financial crisis without facts.
Industry representatives say many inshore vessels have had little fishing since October 1st due to Atlantic depressions over the last three months. The Irish Fish Producers' Organisation and the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation said there was a financial emergency when they met Dr Woods yesterday. The Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation meets him today.
State aid for weather-related lost fishing time needs EU approval, and the Commission views bad weather as an occupational hazard.
The Minister said data for November were available and logbook information for December was expected soon. It would appear 1998 quotas had been exhausted. This would make it very hard to convince the Commission. He said the biggest problem was with the smaller vessels. "I am concerned and I am sympathetic. I just need some facts."
