The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, and Junior Minister John Browne have met a group of 20 Fianna Fáil TD's and Senators at Leinster House over concerns about the plan to end driftnet fishing for salmon.
A Government committee has recommended ending drift netting for salmon and the establishment of a €30 million compensation fund.
It is understood the ministers acknowledged that political and social issues arose from the decision and undertook to consider the views put forward this evening.
A Government decision on the expert group recommendation is to be announced within the next few weeks.
Before tonight's meeting, Deputy Denis O'Donovan from Cork South-West called for a voluntary buyout rather than a compulsory end to such fishing.
He said he believed that if this approach were adopted, up to 70% of fishermen, at least in southern areas of which he knew, would accept the situation.
TDs unhappy
Some Fianna Fáil TDs are unhappy with the committee's recommendations, which were presented to a meeting of the parliamentary Party last night.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, one of the report's authors, Professor Tom Collins, said the measure was essential to preserve the salmon stock.
The chairman of the Progressives Democrats, John Dardis, has said that the report is clear and unequivocal and should be endorsed.
Angling and tourism interests claim drift-netting has devastated salmon stocks, but commercial fishermen and coastal communities say it is a traditional fishing method.
Most drift-netting takes place at sea up to six miles offshore under government licence and that should stop, according to the committee.
In recent years scientific advice has steadily cut the catching quota and fishing has been limited to June and July.
The Independent Salmon Group has acknowledged that some fishermen will suffer hardship and recommends a €25 million compensation fund and it suggests an additional €5 million fund to develop economic activity in coastal communities that are affected by the ending of the fishery.
