The Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, was yesterday urged to have the cross-Border passenger ferry service across Carlingford Lough restored.
The request was made at a meeting of the East Border Region Committee in Monaghan, attended by councillors and public officials from Louth, Monaghan, Newry and Mourne District Council, Down County Council, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Councils.
Mr Jim McCart (Warrenpoint) said the service - between Omeath in Co Louth and Warrenpoint, Co Down - had recently been halted.
The owners were directed by gardaí at Omeath to discontinue the facility which he described as a vital cross-Border link for summer visitors to the region and important to the local economy.
He said the owners were prepared to undertake any improvements considered necessary by the authorities in the South and he warned that if the service was not restored quickly, it could be terminated after having survived for 150 years.