Comments on: Onboard the Julia

By: administrator

administrator — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:08:47 +0000

Hi,

I wanted to give everyone a chance to have their say. We do not sail until March 2010. No decision has been made on staffing as of now. Think I have been fair on letting all have their opinion so will let it at that for now on these comments.

Pat

By: Alan ( Hopeful Future Customer )

Alan ( Hopeful Future Customer ) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:51:02 +0000

As a future customer I can say I am not concerned what nationality of crew are on board so long as the crews are well trained, helpful and efficient.

From reading the backgrounds of the new management I can be satisfied that strong procedures would be put in place whether the staff be employed from Midleton or Gdansk.

I am looking for to receiving the prices and timetables for my 2010 trip to France via the UK.

The overnight sailing will work for me as the 7am arrival is perfect. So, it will all depend on the pricing. The cost of cabins will be one of the other deciding factors for me. I am baffled the pricing competing companies charge for cabins whereby a box with no windows and a thin mattress could fetch so much, possibly inflating margins over the reduced fares.

Please bear the low occupancy levels in the hospitality industry, the lesser amount of people travelling abroad in mind when putting together your introductory 2010 prices.

Regards,

Alan Quirke

Expectant Customer

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:47:34 +0000

Paul,
You have made it very clear you are only concerned with the benifit to you and your buisness counterparts but no one else.
We are an Island nation with 95% of or imports and exports traversing the sea. The lack of support for Irish seafarers and in most cases mere knowledge of our existance never ceses to astound myself and my collegues.
We are responsible for delivering all the goods and services taken for granted by everybody in Ireland.Is the option of working on our own doorstep too much to ask for?
I also have a vested interest in the long term viability of the service and i believe that can be achieved by catering to all sections of Irish society not just certain sections that i am concerned with.
By the people for the people, the peoples ferry.
Not, by some for some, the some peoples ferry.

By: Paul O'Mahony (Cork)

Paul O'Mahony (Cork) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:06:08 +0000

Joe,
When I said I had no interest in the question of Julia’s registration, I was being precise and honest.
I can’t be interested in everything.
Others can concern themselves with the employment of Irish citizens. I’m primarily interested in the long term viability of the Ferry because

(1)I live in Cork and want to use it to go over to Swansea

(2) I have a business interest in the link it provides business to business & tourism into the south of ROI

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:50:56 +0000

Paul,
Both subjects are relevant to each other.An Irish flagged ship, being considered Irish soil, has a legal requirment to carry a certain percentage or Irish citizens. This is not discrimination, just a legal requirment.

To say you have no interest in the question of Julia’s registration is to ignore an option of ensuring employment of Irish citizens without raising the topic of discrimination.

By: Paul O'Mahony (Cork)

Paul O'Mahony (Cork) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:53:21 +0000

Stephen,
I am an expert on employment law. I’ve employed huge numbers of people in my time. I know for sure that if the Ferry discriminates on grounds of nationality, country of origin or any grounds other than competence, it will be taking a reprehensible risk.
I suppose we’d all like it if the crew was entirely made up of our mates, our extended family. Wouldn’t it be lovely if this was a Ferry for the Irish diaspora.
But we are talking about employment not a Xmas party. Everyone has the legal right to be considered for jobs on the Ferry.
The Ferry better not have a secret specification it daren’t make public. The people selecting the staff better not have an unconscious bias in favour of Irish & UK (thereby anti all others.
Perhaps, because the Ferry will be from Wales, only crew bilingual in English & Welsh should apply.)
The absolute most you can do is say that it’s desirable that all applying to become customer facing staff should be able to conduct customer service conversation in Welsh. You’d never find a crew that way.
As regards being offensive, I find the spirit of this debate about who should work on the Ferry a bit offensive. It serves to create a less-than-welcoming atmosphere for someone from non Irish/UK
individuals who might well be reading this and wondering whether they’ll apply for a job on the Ferry.
The only thing that matters is whether you can do a good job for the Ferry, its suppliers, stakeholders, shareholders and above all its customers – IMHO

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:24:18 +0000

Sorry Paul I am no expert on employment law but I believe the company does have the right and would be sensible to choose the right people and can employ who it wishes providing it does not discriminate totaly on the grounds of race religon etc in favour of a crew comprised entirley of ONLY UK and Irish crew. But as I also said if polish crew are employed there must not be any language barriers which could have an affect on safety instructions being conveyed to the passengers as has happened on some cruise ships. I did not mean to be offensive in any way it is just that there should be a fair and equal mix.

By: ulli freier

ulli freier — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:06:59 +0000

I agree with your last comment, Paul. On thee other hand I think it is also a question of money for a new company that is not even in buisiness yet where to flag its ship!

By: Paul O'Mahony (Cork)

Paul O'Mahony (Cork) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:39:21 +0000

Joe,
The point I did my best to make is that it is illegal to discriminate in favour of Irish & UK people when employing staff in Ireland or UK.
You can discriminate on grounds of competence, but not on grounds of nationality. To do so would put the company’s reputation and future at risk.

I appreciate that you are lobbying on the question of where the Ferry is registered. I have no interest in that question.

Since I’ve returned to Ireland after living in UK for 30 years, I’ve formed the impression that many native Irish are experts at knocking things down. Many find it difficult to support each other. I find the tone of your last phrase unpleasant, but you’re welcome to carry on in that manner – it won’t do you or anyone any good in my opinion.

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:46:23 +0000

The company does have an option on this subject Paul. Were the Julia to fly the irish or uk flag she would be required to carry a percentage of sefarers of that nationality. Given her current flag of convienence, white listed by the international transport workers federation, any nationality may be employed and in many cases exploited. Also revenue, so badly needed given our current economic climate, will be destened to her current Burmudan registery and will therefore not benifit the people who fought so hard to revive the service.
The so called “peoples ferry”!