Tánaiste urges solution to Aran ferry crisis

The Tánaiste has urged Galway county councillors to give due consideration to all proposals put forward today in a bid to reinstate the service.
The matter was brought before the Dail by Galway West Fianna Fail TD Eamon O’Cuiv who said it’s unacceptable that the islanders have been left without a vital transport link today.
Island Ferries withdrew the winter service last evening due to what the firm describes as the ‘negative fiscal conditions’ created by the local authority with the introduction of passenger levies.
It comes as discussions took place at County Hall this afternoon where councillors are due to adopt a budget for 2017.
The dispute concerning passenger levies was raised after earlier attempts to address the matter before the budget discussions were stamped out.
Frances Fitzgerald told the Dáil councillors need to come up with a solution that’s left hundreds of people unable to travel to and from the Aran island.
At the Council meeting, councillors voted to give Chief Executive Kevin Kelly a many date to continue talks with the ferry operator, while a motion was also passed to ask the Departments of An Taoiseach and Gaeltacht to intervene.