No excuse for halt to Skellig ferries

It is utterly unacceptable that ALL ferry services bringing visitors out to the famous Skellig Michael off Portmagee have been suspended due to a High Court challenge concerning licences.

The court action is being taken by three ferry operators (as is their right) who failed to secure licences from the Office of Public Works (OPW) to conduct such services to the Skelligs. Fifteen other services were granted licences.

The ferries were due to start transporting visitors to Skellig Michael on May 10 and now we’re being told it’ll be weeks before the service resumes.

The complete halt to ferry services, particularly during the spell of fantastic weather, is as intolerable as it is unacceptable. It’s causing havoc to South Kerry tourism businesses that depend on these months for the bulk of their income.

But it also appears to be so unnecessary.

This is a legal dispute about licences to ferry people to the Skelligs. As such it’s all about business, which is not to diminish in the slightest the importance of the issue at stake.

However, business is about money. And the point is; in this dispute any financial loss to those taking the court action can be compensated, if they are successful, by damages measured in hard currency.

It should not be necessary, therefore, for a complete ban to be imposed on all ferry services to Skellig Michael, notwithstanding court proceedings.

There is no reasonable excuse for denying people the right to visit the famous Skelligs in these circumstances. The ferry services should be renewed straight away.

A complete ban is too much of a disruption and is imposing a severe penalty on people who are entirely unrelated to the proceedings in the High Court.