asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will investigate the possibility of extending to the British and Irish Steampacket Company Limited, by way of subsidy or otherwise, funds to enable them to maintain the Cork-Fishguard service by means of the m.v. Innisfallen until such time as the new Swansea-Cork car ferry comes into operation next May, in order to obviate unemployment on the line and future losses to the port, city and county of Cork.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork-Fishguard Shipping Service.
29.
: The decision of the B. & I. Company to discontinue the Cork/Fishguard service as from 1st November has been forced on them by the heavy financial loss which would be involved in maintaining the service pending the introduction of the Cork/ Swansea service. The company is under a mandate to operate on a strictly commercial basis and, indeed, the agreement of Coast Lines Ltd. to the sale of the company was subject to a firm assurance on behalf of the Government to that effect. There is no provision for the payment of subsidy or contribution of capital to the company in the British and Irish Steam Packet Company Ltd. (Acquisition) Act, 1965, and I am not prepared to consider the introduction of amending legislation in this respect.
I understand from the company that they are at present in negotiation with the trade unions concerned with a view to alleviating the hardship to the employees.