Inquiry into Skellig Michael boatman over social distancing complaint

A SKELLIG MICHAEL boatman is being investigated by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) on foot of a complaint about Covid-19 restrictions and difficulty with social distancing on board.

The complaint was lodged by a frontline worker last week and alleges social distancing guidelines were not being enforced on a boat carrying passengers from Portmagee, Co Kerry to see the infamous craggy rock. It said the boat was filled to its maximum capacity of 12 people and two crew members last weekend, making social distancing difficult. The complaint was lodged with the HSA and the OPW last week.

The boat operator, Skellig Michael Cruises, rejected the claims in the complaint, saying it is adhering to Covid-19 guidelines, allowing for social distancing, encouraging the use of face masks and from tomorrow, it will be enforcing temperature checks on board.

“We are all trying to live with this and we are doing our best. We are sanitising the boat and we are making sure the customers have hand sanitiser,” said a spokesman for the company. “We are social distancing groups and putting a seat between them. We have a lot of families this year and groups and we try to separate those. Sometimes we even have people booking a trip on their own, renting out the boat on their own. We have seating inside the boats, with six inside the cabin and 12 outside.”

The HSA said it does not comment on individual complaints but said a return to work safely protocol launched in May applies to all business sectors. Failte Ireland has produced specific and more detailed guidelines for the safe reopening and operation of businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector, a spokeswoman added.

The OPW, which issues licences for boatmen to land on Skellig Michael, said it has responded to the complaint but as no boats are landing passengers on the island this year because of Covid-19 restrictions, it is not in a position to address the issues raised.