The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, has accused the European Commission of being "determined to back Spain's position" on opening up the Irish Box.
The future of the 50-mile protected zone off the Irish west coast is one of three key issues facing Mr Ahern at this week's EU fisheries council in Brussels. Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing quotas for next year are also on the packed agenda, and it is expected that the council will run for most of the week.
On the eve of his departure for Brussels, the Minister warned last night that the council would represent "the most difficult negotiations facing a fisheries minister for 20 years".
He said in spite of Ireland's "strong legal advice" that there was no reason to allow equal access to the Irish Box, it was clear the Commission was set on backing Spain's view that the current limit of 40 vessels applicable to the Spanish fleet in the area was discriminatory and should end.
A series of meetings which the Minister was due to have in Brussels last night had to be cancelled when the Government jet broke down. He is now expected to travel to Brussels today.
Last month, the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner, Dr Franz Fischler, denied that a legal opinion on the Irish Box for the EU council was instigated by Spain,and also said that he did not support unrestricted access. However, he left no doubt that he accepted the legal opinion on the "equal access" principle.
The Irish Box is one of the most biologically-sensitive fishery areas in EU waters, and it was for this reason that the zone was established on Spanish and Portuguese accession to the EU in 1986. Spain has the EU's largest fleet.
Irish industry representatives say that dismantling the Irish Box will have catastrophic consequences for the whitefish fleet, and will make a mockery of the European Commission's commitment to conservation.
The ministers gather after a week of protests across Europe over aspects of the proposed policy reform. The Irish fishing industry has warned that no deal is better than a bad deal after its "day of action" in ports on Friday.
Northern Irish fishermen, who came to the rescue of southern counterparts with a surplus prawn allocation last week after the fishery was closed, face a very uncertain future as the British government has more or less caved in to demands from Brussels on fleet cuts.
Ireland is part of an alliance with France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy which opposes fleet cuts.
Industry organisations here are seeking an improved quota allocation on the current 5 per cent overall out of 11 per cent of EU waters; retention and enhanced protection of the 50-mile exclusion zone known as the Irish Box; and an alternative to the Commission's proposed 40 per cent fleet reduction,with support instead for a series of technical conservation measures, closed areas, reduced discards and strict enforcement.
The industry is also pushing for a modified cod recovery programme for the Irish Sea as an alternative to the proposed 80 per cent cut in the total allowable catch; and genuine incorporation of socio-economic and regional dimensions into the new fish policy.
The Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation wants a "roll over" of the current policy if satisfactory agreement is not reached by Thursday.
Two European fishing organisations have warned of a growing militancy throughout the Community.
Europeche, the European fishermen's representative body, and Cogeca, the fishing section of the EU co-operative movement, have said that financial compensation is an "absolute must" if certain areas have to be closed to fishing.
