Councillor stands over Doolin ferry comments

FERRY operators in Doolin have taken exception to comments made by Councillor Martin Conway but the Ennistymon man has defiantly stood over them.
At a meeting of Clare County Council, he said ferry operators were responsible for development at the pier not going ahead. “What’s gone on has been a shambles and it’s quite right that it be put back on the ferry operators themselves,” he said.
Unhappy with his comments, Dick Grant of Aran Islands Fast Ferries said that the operators were not responsible for the situation at the pier.
“He has implied that the ferry operators created a shambles but that’s not the case. Clare County Council have had great opportunities to rectify the problems at Doolin Pier. The shambles has been created by Clare County Council. In 1968 a deed of transfer was issued between a landowner and Clare County Council for 18 acres including the harbour area.
“That deed of transfer was never processed and it has held up development. It has also impeded the progress of Doolin Rescue, because they need a training centre and a boat centre. The shambles has been created by Clare County Council over the years and no other party.”
He acknowledged that there have been difficulties among the operators but said they were the result of poor and inconsistent application of planning regulations.
John Burke is also a Doolin-based ferry operator and he too was critical of Councillor Conway. “To say it’s a shambles that has been caused by the ferry operators is just waffle,” he commented.
He was critical of Councillor Conway’s record in North Clare. “I could give you a long list of things that he has done that are a shambles. When are the public toilets going to open in Doolin? At the weekend there were 2,500 people there but no toilets available.”
Mr Burke said that the ferry operators are happy to work together for their common good and that they want to maintain jobs in the local area.
However, Councillor Conway said he was standing over his original comments. “They [the ferry operators] have singularly failed to come up with a common proposal for many years. The difficulties that have existed over the years have centred on personality clashes.”
He said that if the ferry operators can get behind a common proposal, the chances of getting development moving is much better.
“If they come up with an agreed proposal it’s far easier for the councillors to lobby. There is a need for agreement from them about what is needed. If an agreement is needed everything has got to be accepted by Clare County Council. If that is there, the councillors will push the management to implement it.
“They [the ferry operators] have made significant profits over the years and I have no hesitation in saying it is a shambles and they have responsibility for coming up with an agreed proposal. I’d encourage all involved to come up with a resolution.”