JOHN KING,
Madam, - The fisheries conservation area around Ireland known as the Irish Box is under threat. Spanish negotiators in the EU are using political pressure to have this last remaining conservation area open to their fleets. Reports suggest an armada of fishing boats is waiting to move into these waters.
It is imperative that the Irish Government takes a belatedly strong stand with the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner and defends this last vestige of what was once Ireland's greatest asset.
Ireland is in fact one of the largest per capita contributors to the EU. According to the Department of Finance, Ireland has received about €46.34 billion since we joined the the Union. According to Eurostat, the EU's offical source for statistical data, EU-registered fishing boats take about €17.8 billion worth of fish each year from Irish territorial waters. That's over €500 billion contributed by Ireland to Europe since we joined in 1973.
So, Irish politicians: have some pride, put away the begging bowl and give the marine sector the attention and protection it deserves. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN KING,
Ardmore,
Co Waterfprd