Cargo sailings to the Aran island of Inish Mór have resumed following attempts by Galway County Council to resolve the dispute between the island's harbourmaster and the State-subsidised ferry operator over safety.
However, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs said it was taking the issue "very seriously". The island co-op has also expressed full support for the decision by the harbourmaster, Mr Paddy McDonagh, to refuse the ferry permission to land at Kilronan pier on Inish Mór last Thursday.
The harbourmaster had already informed the company in writing of his concerns about its discharge of cargo on health and safety grounds when he took his decision to turn the vessel away. O'Brien Shipping runs the thrice weekly cargo and passenger service from Galway docks at an annual cost of just over €600,000.
Galway County Council convened a meeting between the company and the harbourmaster on Friday. Afterwards it said that the problems had "been resolved", and O'Brien Shipping would "co-operate fully with the council to ensure that the problems in relation to the use of the pier in Kilronan are addressed".
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which pays the annual subsidy, was not informed of the Friday meeting. Nor was the island co-op, which contacted the Health and Safety Authority over a year ago to raise concerns about the company's service.
Last month, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuiv, said he intended to conduct an immediate review of State-subsidised ferry services between Galway and the Aran islands following an investigation by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The CAG's report identified flaws in the current arrangements made with O'Brien Shipping. It questioned the department's decision to renew a contract with the company in 1997 when the department was aware of shortcomings in that service.
The CAG audit covered all State-subsidised transport services to the Aran islandsfrom Galway city, Rossaveal and Inverin.
The report noted that the stand-by vessel nominated by the ferry operator for the city of Galway service did not have a load-line certificate for carriage of cargo, and was not fully complying with the terms of the contract. It understood that a certificate had been applied for recently by the owner to the Marine Survey Office.
The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources said last week it was not aware of any issues regarding marine safety or certification of the company's vessels. A surveyor from its Marine Survey Office had undertaken a "routine" check of the vessel in Galway on Thursday, a spokesman said.
Mr Bill O'Brien, director of O'Brien Shipping, said last week the company's safety record was "impeccable", and the State was getting very good value for money in the service provided by a "state-of-the art" vessel.
Mr O'Brien questioned the authority of the harbourmaster to prevent the vessel from landing, and said his skipper had ultimate authority over the safety of the ship on its berth.
