The fishermen react to the Foreign Minister’s attempt to get credit for the transfer of the Russian navy’s operations

FISHERMEN, who helped move a Russian missile exercise out of Irish waters, opposed Simon Coveney’s attempt to claim credit for the victory because they claimed they didn’t know “the minister is with team with us.”

Last week, it was reported that a series of Russian warships were on their way to the waters off Cork to participate in an exercise.

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The naval operation is seen as an attempt by Russia to bolster its military might as tensions continue to rise between Western leaders and President Vladimir Putin over fears that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine. .

ONE a group of Irish fishermen planned to protest the military operation was planned to happen in an area where boats often fish for shrimp in Dublin Bay.

Russian naval operations have now been moved away from the coast of Ireland following a letter from Minister Simon Coveney and talks between Irish fishermen and the Russian ambassador.

Minister Coveney said today that the Russians have changed their plans after a joint effort between the Government working with fishing organizations.

“I think this is a prime example of a fishing organization and the Government working side by side,” he told RTE.

“We are on the same side here. In fact, last night I got a call from someone from Castletownbere saying “look we got the ball in the air and you got it in the net and it’s good to work together on things like this.”

However, the head of one of the Irish fishing groups involved in negotiations with Russia today hit back at Minister Coveney’s attempt to claim credit for the victory when he declared: “I even Didn’t even know the Minister was in the same group as us. ”

Brendan Byrne from the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association and Patrick Murphy from the Southern and Western Irish Fish Producers Association met with Russian Ambassador Yury Filatov this week to discuss moving military operations away from Irish fishing waters.

Brendan told the Irish Sun that no one from Secretary Coveney’s office contacted the fishing organizations during this process.

‘HONUR POLITICAL LAP’

He said: “Obviously he has political respect and politicians are entitled to do that but Patrick Murphy has done the trojan work and taken the lead in this campaign.

“I can safely say that neither Patrick nor I have received any communications from Secretary Coveney throughout this process.

“I want to commend the entire fishing industry, who have united around the coast and the public has supported us to an unbelievable degree. This is a grassroots, bottom-up approach and that’s what has made this campaign successful. ”