The Minister for Agriculture has secured a new mandate from EU Fisheries Ministers to enter final negotiations with the European Parliament on a reformed Common Fisheries Policy.

The breakthrough came at 6.15 this morning, after 36 hours of negotiations.

Europe's fisheries policy has been criticised for being too expensive and for causing badly depleted fish stocks. The practice of discarding has also been widely criticised - that's the system by which fish caught in batches that exceed set quotas are dumped.

In a statement this morning, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the agreement will provide the framework for long term sustainability of fish stocks and the continued economic viability of fishing fleets.

Minister Coveney will present the draft agreement to the leaders of the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament later.