Ireland was one of a number of European countries that lobbied against a proposed EU directive that could have guaranteed ferry workers' pay and conditions last year.
The European Commission ditched the proposed directive on Manning Conditions for Regular Passenger and Ferry Services in August 2004 following lobbying against the proposal by states concerned it would make some ferry services uneconomic.
Government objections to the proposed EU measure centred on fears that it would make ferry services to peripheral areas in Ireland uneconomic. It was also concerned that loopholes in the directive would allow some firms to operate on a seasonal basis, thus avoiding having to comply with aspects of the new law, according to a statement issued by the Department of the Marine yesterday.
However, the commission said yesterday that its proposal could have helped Irish staff, while now it could only promote social dialogue on pay and conditions.
"Our intention was to ensure the same working conditions of ferry staff irrespective of the nationality of these staff," said a commission spokeswoman.
"In fact the legislation proposed by us was blocked by member states in the council of ministers and so has been withdrawn." Proinsias De Rossa, Labour MEP, criticised the Government last night for failing to support the proposed ferries directive in the Council of Ministers, and for failing to push for a better directive if it wasn't happy with the original EU proposal.
He said the Government should consider proposing new legislation at a meeting of transport ministers in Brussels next week.
A spokesman for the Minister for the Marine, Noel Dempsey, said Government would give "careful consideration", both in relation to the protection of seafarers' labour conditions and in relation to our peripherality and competitiveness concerns, if the commission decided to reintroduce a proposal for a new directive.
However, the commission is unlikely to propose a directive on the issue so soon after having its previous directive thrown out.