Madam, - Tony Allwright (November 30th) castigates as "ridiculous" my suggestion that the brand name Irish Ferries might contravene trades description law (November 29th). Ridiculous no, tongue in cheek perhaps - though Mr Allwright, given his reference to Ryanair, may be confusing me with my namesake, whom of course I am not.
I am, however, the owner and chief executive of one of the country's largest recruitment firms and let me assure him that, notwithstanding a strong economy, 543 Irish Ferries employees will not "instantly find new jobs" and certainly not in the sector for which they have been trained and at the terms on which they have been compensated until now.
Whatever one's views about the merits of trade unions, employees are entitled to adequate protection from sudden loss of position and earnings, unfair management practice and hazards to health and safety. Most of this legislation is driven, ironically, by the EU, the very structure facilitating the Irish Ferries position.
Morally, what is the difference between this and an employer in Ireland turning around and firing long-serving employees simply because there is a younger or less expensive alternative? Why should there be a legal difference? - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O'LEARY, Seapoint Avenue, Monkstown, Co Dublin.
Madam, - For many years I have been a faithful customer of Irish Ferries.
I now refuse to support the operations of what are clearly little better than modern-day slave ships.
I pledge, therefore, that if the company does not reinstate with proper union-rate pay those of my fellow countrymen and countrywomen whom it has cruelly sacked, I will never use its ships again.
I hope confidently that, for the sake of all Irish people, others will initiate their own personal boycott of the company so inappropriately still called Irish Ferries. - Yours, etc,
CHARLES HAYES, East Ferry, Midleton, Co Cork.