Two tourist water buses operating in Killarney National Park and responsible for carrying hundreds of passengers each day are in the news on foot of concerns raised by the Department of Transport.
The licence for one of the vessels has not been extended and the master and owner of the second vessel, which is owned by a separate company, has been summonsed to court.
Yesterday the Department of Transport confirmed that it had not extended the licence of the Pride of the Lakes following a routine safety check. The boat would not be allowed to sail again until "certain safety modifications" had been carried out.
A department spokesman said that the boat's licence had been valid until September 2nd. The licence would not be renewed until its inspectors were satisfied that the safety modifications had been completed.
The concerns follow a routine check of the boat by the Marine Survey Office.
The issue had been brought to the attention of the owners, Destination Killarney, a marketing company linked to the Gleneagle hotel group.
Pride of the Lakes is one of two glass-covered water buses owned by separate companies which offer tours of Lough Leane from Ross Castle.
Each boat can carry 78 passengers and makes about five sailings a day.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Transport has brought legal proceedings against the master and the company responsible for the second vessel, the Lily of Killarney. This boat is continuing to operate.
Padraig O'Donoghue, care of Killarney Watercoach Cruises Ltd, of Old Weir Lodge, Muckross Road, Killarney, and the company of the same address were summonsed to appear in Killarney District Court this week in relation to passenger numbers and failure to display an insurance certificate. A total of five summonses were issued.
According to one summons, Padraig O'Donoghue, of Killarney Watercoach Cruises Ltd, allowed the vessel to carry 103 passengers and three infants on August 22nd 2006. It is also alleged that the vessel was allowed on the same day to go into the water "in such an unseaworthy state" that the lives of persons on board were endangered.
The matter has been adjourned to December.