‘Black day’ for skipper as ferry privatised

A SKIPPER who yesterday lost his job on the former State-run Cape Clear ferry, after 35 years’ service, accused the Government of turning its back on his crew.

An emotional Tadhg (Ted) Ó Drisceoill, 59, told Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon Ó Cuív, that his department had deleted a clause protecting his crew from the new contract governing the now-privatised route.

As the new operator began plying the route for the first time yesterday, Mr Ó Drisceoill led a delegation of near 20 islanders to meet Mr Ó Cuív, who was visiting West Cork.

They told the minister that two of the four crew were offered lesser positions on the ferry by the new operator but they had declined. One was not offered a position at all.

Mr Ó Drisceoill said he has 35 years’ experience on the ferry — 30 years as skipper — and had followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle, who brought the first State ferry to the island in 1931.

“Monday was the blackest day of my life. I have a clear record and vast experience but that counts for nothing,” he said.

He said his heart was broken to see Cape Clear “hurt and split” by the decision to privatise the ferry route.

The crew has been let down by the department and the minister — and the department has turned its back on them, he said.

SIPTU also condemned the department for deleting the employee protection clause from the new operating contract.

Union official Tom O’Driscoll called on the minister to intervene to protect the affected workers and explain why the clause was deleted.

The four-man crew — who are native islanders — operated the former State-owned vessel as employees of Naomh Ciarán II Teoranta — a subsidiary of Comhaircumann Oilean Chleire, the Island Co-Op.

Seagoing vessels are not covered by the Transfer of Undertakings legislation, which is there to protect employees rights and conditions when their employment is taken over by a new owner.

“Recognising this, the department incorporated a clause into the operator’s contract which would effectively give employees the same level of protection as provided for in the Transfer of Undertakings legislation. But this clause has now been deleted,” Mr O’Driscoll said.

“According to the terms of agreement between the new contractor and the department, the contractor can now operate the vessel with a crew of their own choosing and pay them what they like. The department has therefore made it easy for them to avoid their obligations, by arguing that as a sea-going vessel, the Naomh Ciarán II is exempt from the legislation.”

He said it was a very serious development which could have serious repercussions for other maritime workers on Ireland’s coastal waters.

“The department is claiming no legal liability in this issue because it does not directly employ the workers concerned,” he said.

“This may be legally correct but it is a disgraceful cop-out since the department drew up the contract and therefore has a moral and ethical duty to ensure the protection of existing employees.”

The minister said his department would seek to discuss the issue with SIPTU in the coming weeks.