Panic Stations!

Give us a break. Are we all supposed to swallow this? Are we been treated as fools by Irish Ferries? In a judgement on the debacle involving the Irish Ferries vessel which was delayed entering service in 2018, the NTA directed the ferry company to compensate its passengers who were out of pocket due to changing their travel arrangements.

Now Irish Ferries have hit back and said that the NTA’s interpretation of EU regulation had been a “critical factor” in its “regretful” conclusion that it will be unlikely to operate the Oscar Wilde to France out of Rosslare this year. Irish Ferries also accused the NTA of contributing to making the route “commercially unviable” in the future.

Are they serious?  There’s more than a share of shifting the blame and finger pointing about this excuse.

Are we all expected to believe that the year round shipping of  trucks and freight carried direct to France by the company doesn’t generate a funding stream all year round? Does the company expect the travelling public to think that the straw that broke the camels back was compensating its passengers due to the failure of its ship builder to complete a job on time and within budget?

According to Irish Ferries at the time the ship WB Yeats didn’t enter service due to a problem at the shipyard.  Booking s had been made off the back of a signed contract to deliver a vessel. If the shipyard was responsible for delays then Irish Ferries needed to pursue them.

What is the point in singing a contract to build if when the things go pear shaped that you can’t pursue the ship builder .

Irish Ferries shut the route from Rosslare to France simply because they see Dublin port has a critical mass and reach that is greater than Rosslare. A few hours extra on their ship will mean more on board spending. That’s why Irish ferries took the decision they did.

Let’s hope the EU give Irish Ferries short shrift on this one and send them home with their tails between their legs.