Fishermen have been a given a guarantee by Russia’s ambassador to Ireland that their fishing grounds will not be affected by navy exercises. We’ll see, considering the Russian ambassador said “three or four vessels” even as reports say 30 ships.
A group of Irish fishermen plan to take a stand against the Russian Navy and disrupt their upcoming military exercises off the coast of Cork next month. Russia’s ambassador to Ireland, Yuri Filatov, has promised that the drills—which will take place about 150 miles off the coast in international waters but within Ireland’s airspace—will be only “a small exercise, maybe three or four ships, not more.” But Ireland’s fishing industry has already taken “as much as it can possibly take” and is not about to let Russia’s Navy harm important marine life, said Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organization. In comments to RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Murphy said the drills posed a threat to the “livelihood” of the whole industry and any artillery fire could drastically change the marine environment for years to come. “It’s our waters. Can you imagine if the Russians were applying to go onto the mainland of Ireland to go launching rockets, how far would they get with that?” Murphy said.
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A group of fishermen is planning to peacefully disrupt Russia's plans to hold a military exercise off the coast of Ireland in February.
The chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) has said the area is "very important" for members. Patrick Murphy says they want to protect biodiversity and marine life.
But Russia's Ambassador to Ireland says controversy around the exercise is "hugely overblown". On Monday, Yury Filatov held a press conference at the Russian Embassy in Dublin.
He said the planned exercises by Russian naval vessels was "not in any way a threat to Ireland or anybody else" and that no harm was intended by it. Mr Filatov said three or four ships would be involved, but he did not know if missiles or submarines would be used.
On Monday, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said he would be briefed on the situation by Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, and that the minister would also brief the Cabinet on Tuesday.
Mr Varadkar said: "While the Russian military can, within the law, carry out these exercises off our waters and in our economic zone, they are certainly unwelcome and that has been communicated to the authorities."
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