The Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, has ordered an "urgent" review of the use of ferry facilities at Rossaveal, Co Galway, following allegations of conflict between two ferry companies serving the Aran islands.
The Minister said an "unsustainable" and "inequitable" situation had emerged in recent months in the Connemara fishing port which was contrary to the long-term interests of users of the harbour and ferry-users.
Mr Fahey said he had directed his Department to conduct the review, which will examine the use of ferry-related facilities, including car-parking. Rossaveal has been approved for a £14.8 million development project, which includes provision of a dedicated ferry berth and a deep water berth.
The Minister said he found it unacceptable that the finances and smooth running of the infrastructure could be "undermined by the selective use of certain facilities" and the "non-use of related revenue-generating facilities such as the harbour car-park".
Currently, two ferry companies use Rossaveal for the link between Galway and the three Aran islands. There have been claims of heightened competition between the two. Island Ferries, run by Mr Paddy and Mrs Sally O'Brien, is the largest company with five vessels. In 1996 the O'Briens acquired the rival company, Aran Ferries. Earlier this summer a group of Aran fishermen introduced their vessel on the route. The five - Mr Tommy Flaherty, Mr Padraic Conneely, Mr Thomas Conneely, Mr Tom Flaherty and Mr Mairtin Mullins - invested £1.5 million in a new craft, The Queen of Aran II, which is equipped to carry 200 passengers.
They appointed Mr Locky O'Kelly to manage their new company, Inis Mor Ferries, and it has promised a year-round schedule more suited to islanders' needs.
However, there have been allegations recently that signs belonging to the new company have been tampered with, and tourists claim to have been given misinformation regarding the travel options.
Island Ferries offers secure car-parking on the approach road to the harbour, which is believed to have affected revenue levels from the State's carparking facilities in the main harbour.
Mr O'Kelly said he welcomed the review. Mrs O'Brien said she also welcomed it. Her company had been in existence for 19 years and had invested heavily in marketing and vessels and had put £100,000 into its car-park, she added.
"Before we provided our carpark, people had to park their cars on the road," Mrs O'Brien said. Commenting on the arrival of a competitor on the route, she said that she objected to a company being allowed to set up in business without any marketing record.
