Irish fishermen, like many of their Scottish counterparts, are not happy with certain reform proposals such as the proposal to introduce transferable quotes. The worry is that smaller nations could eventually lose control of their fisheries. Some people have suggested that transferable quotas is tantamount to privatising the oceans.  Another side of the argument is that selling fishing quotas will help to boost fish stocks.
 
Ms Damanaki has not said what will be on the agenda when she goes to Ireland, but she plans to meet the Irish Fisheries Minister Simon Coveney and stakeholders in the fishing industry.
 
Talking about her US visit where she signed a "significant agreement between Europe and the US administration" on putting an end to illegal fishing, she said the substantial follow-up in the media on this topic shows the importance given to this subject by the public at large, but also that real action is expected to follow soon.
 
 "We have established an EU-US High Level Dialogue on Fisheries Policy to set out the next steps in the immediate future.The European proposals for fisheries reform were very well received by all counterparts in Washington, bearing in mind that the United States are miles ahead of Europe when it comes to sustainable fishing, through their legislation which has eradicated overfishing.
 
"We talked about best practises, comparisons and differences between our approaches, experiences in Alaska and how catch-share programmes contributed to preserve fisheries better as a common good for the benefit of the environment, a better value for and estimation of fish and a real and long lasting income for the fishermen alike."

She added: "The same benefits will be seen after the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in the European Union when the idea of transferable concessions is implemented properly. Because it is the common good of our seas and oceans that we have to hand in a good shape to future generations."

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