A blockade of French ports has disrupted the travel arrangements of over 2,000 Irish holiday-makers. The ports are being blockaded by farmers, taxi drivers and fishermen angry about soaring fuel prices.
Some 1,200 passengers travelling with Irish Ferries, who were due to arrive in Rosslare from Cherbourg early yesterday morning, were delayed for several hours. They were redirected to Roscoff, a few hours' drive away, and did not dock in Rosslare until last night.
A further 1,000 passengers, due to depart Rosslare for Cherbourg at 4 p.m. yesterday, did not leave until 9 p.m. Their boat was then re-routed to the French naval port of Brest. A spokesman for Irish Ferries, Mr Don Hall, said he was "confidently expecting" that the Normandy would be able to dock in Brest at 3 p.m. today.
Anyone who wished to cancel their trip as a result of the disruption would have their money refunded, he said.
However, he ruled out compensation for passengers who had been delayed or who had to travel to alternative ports to depart France. He said buses had been provided to transport foot passengers from Cherbourg to Roscoff, and a number of senior officials from Irish Ferries had been deployed to Cherbourg, Roscoff and Brest to meet passengers arriving at the ports.
"Since the matter is not of our making, it is unlikely that we will be making reimbursements to passengers who suffer inconvenience," he said.
He added that the Normandy had been due to return to Rosslare today, but this sailing had been put back to 1 a.m. tomorrow to accommodate passengers who had to travel from Cherbourg to Brest to catch the ferry. It is due to arrive in Rosslare at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
Passengers travelling with Irish Ferries during the blockade should check sailing times with the company before leaving home. The contact numbers are (01) 638 3333 or (01) 661 0715.
Brittany Ferries, which sails once a week from Cork to Roscoff, hasn't yet been affected by the blockade.
A Dublin taxi firm was inundated with calls yesterday after an Irish Ferries representative gave its number in error on RTE radio as the one to call for passengers travelling to France. The taxi firm had just changed its number because it was similar to that of Bus Eireann.