Judge to decide on suspension of Sceilg Mhichíl permits
The permits have not been issued while legal proceedings are before the courts in the form of a judicial review of the tendering process.
At the High Court, Mr Justice Garret Simons said he was "staggered" by the assertion made by lawyers for the Office of Public Works that it would need six months to prepare the case. He ordered it to be heard next month.
Two companies, which were unsuccessful in their applications for the 2025 season, have made a judicial review application, resulting in a delay to the granting of permits.
The season runs from May to the end of September.
The OPW ran a competition in late 2024 to award 15 boating permits for summer 2025 serving the monastic island, which was chosen as a film location for the Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
However, in April 2025, two unsuccessful participants in the competition brought High Court proceedings challenging the outcome.
The OPW said that under Irish and EU law, it was then precluded from issuing permits for the 2025 summer season until legal proceedings were resolved.
Skellig Michael Boat Trips and Atlantic Endeavour Limited both dispute the process underpinning the granting of the licences, alleging it to be "deficient" and "without transparency" and have been granted permission for the challenge.
At the High Court, David Dodd BL, for the plaintiffs, told Mr Justice Simons that nobody wanted to prevent boats from visiting the island.
He said permits could be granted by the court in an interim fashion, as the issuing of a one-season permit was not a "contract", as contended by the OPW.
He said his clients are happy for the suspension to be lifted.
Mr Justice Simons asked Andrew Beck SC, for the OPW, why it would take six months to prepare for what the judge described as "the most straightforward case of competition for licences".
Mr Beck said there was discovery of documents needed, amendments to make and a possible issue around cross-examination.
Mr Justice Simons said he was "staggered" that the case would take up to six months to get on and that there were "livelihoods" at stake.
The judge said the court would give the case "top priority", adding that the court had "gone out of its way" to facilitate an early trial.
Mr Justice Simons said he would rule on Thursday of this week on whether to lift the suspension of the permits.
He adjourned the substantive hearing of the judicial review to 21 July.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
24 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
In Quotes: Europe reacts to new trade deal with US
The US struck a framework trade agreement with the European Union, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods and averting a bigger trade war between the two allies that account for almost a third of global trade. Following are reactions from European leaders and trade ministers to the deal. Taoiseach Micheál Martin The agreement "brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US - the biggest in the world. "That is good for businesses, investors and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland." Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris "A deal provides a measure of much needed certainty for Irish, European and American businesses who together represent the most integrated trading relationship in the world. "While Ireland regrets that the baseline tariff of 15% is included in the agreement, it is important that we now have more certainty on the foundations for the EU-US trade relationship, which is essential for jobs, growth and investment." French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou "It is a sombre day when an alliance of free peoples, brought together to affirm their common values and to defend their common interests, resigns itself to submission." Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán "This is not an agreement ... Donald Trump ate [Ursula] von der Leyen for breakfast, this is what happened and we suspected this would happen as the US president is a heavyweight when it comes to negotiations while Madame President is featherweight." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz "This agreement has succeeded in averting a trade conflict that would have hit the export-orientated German economy hard. "This applies in particular to the automotive industry, where the current tariffs of 27.5% will be almost halved to 15%." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "I consider it positive that there is an agreement, but if I don't see the details I am not able to judge it in the best way." Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan "Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan salutes that a trade agreement was reached it is a good omen," the government press office said. "...It eliminates present unclearness which caused disruptions and uncertainties in transatlantic trade relations." Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo "The agreement brings much-needed predictability to the global economy and Finnish companies. Work must continue to dismantle trade barriers. Only free transatlantic trade benefits both sides the most." Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen "The trade conditions will not be as good as before, and it is not our choice, but a balance must be found that stabilises the situation and that both sides can live with."
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Israel due to begin another 10-hour military 'pause' in Gaza as UN pushes for two-state talks
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago THE ISRAELI MILITARY will begin a second day of its daily 'tactical pause' in three areas of Gaza, in what it claims is an effort to ease the worsening humanitarian crisis. In a statement on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had launched a 'tactical suspension of military operations for humanitarian purposes' in al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City. The pause is scheduled to run from 10am (8am Irish time) to 8pm local time daily, until further notice. Despite the move, safety on the ground is far from guaranteed for Palestinians. An airstrike was reported in Gaza City yesterday in an area where Israel had announced a pause just an hour earlier. The IDF said it was unaware of the strike. The UN's aid chief, Tom Fletcher, noted some easing of movement restrictions since Israel agreed to expand humanitarian access for a week. However, he urged that the effort now needed to be 'sustained, vast and fast', pressing Israel to accelerate the approval of lorries at border crossings. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates carried out their first airdrops into Gaza in months yesterday, though officials stressed that air delivery is no substitute for consistent land access. Humanitarian aid was airdropped to Palestinians over northern Gaza. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again criticised the UN, accusing it of having 'no excuses left' for not delivering aid. He also rejected allegations that Israel is deliberately starving civilians, a potential war crime, calling such claims an 'egregious falsehood'. The UN said it would attempt to reach as many people as possible now that secure land routes have been announced. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported it has enough supplies in, or en route to, the region to feed Gaza's 2.1 million residents for almost three months. Advertisement The WFP says 62,000 tonnes of food per month are needed to meet the population's basic needs. Trucks carrying humanitarian aids line up to enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Israel said that 120 trucks of aid have been distributed in Gaza so far. UN Conference on Two-State Solution France and Saudi Arabia are leading a UN-backed initiative in New York this week aimed at reviving the push for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement last week that France will recognise the State of Palestine in September has added momentum to the three-day conference. Several other European nations are expected to follow suit. France's decision to recognise Palestine 'will breathe new life into a conference that seemed destined to irrelevance,' said Richard Gowan, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. 'Macron's announcement changes the game. Other participants will be scrabbling to decide if they should also declare an intent to recognize Palestine,' Gowan said. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and officials from over 100 countries are expected to attend the New York conference. The conference will also focus on reforming the Palestinian Authority, disarming Hamas, and encouraging further Arab-Israeli normalisation. While no new peace deals are expected, French officials say Arab states will, for the first time, issue a joint condemnation of Hamas and call for its disarmament. Neither Israel nor the United States are participating in the talks. Despite 'tactical pauses' announced by Israel, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is expected to dominate speeches by representatives. Gowan said he expected 'very fierce criticism of Israel.' Additional reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
X introduces age assurance measures to meet regulations
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has introduced new age assurance measures in a bid to comply with Irish, UK and EU regulations. Under provisions of the Irish Online Safety Code that came into force last Monday, video-sharing platforms that allow pornography must have effective age assurance measures. Last week, the media regulator Coimisiún na Meán said it had not seen evidence of measures taken by X to comply with the code. It contacted platform and asked for an explanation by last Friday. It is understood Coimisiún na Meán has received a reply from X outlining the new measures which the regulator is now studying. In an online help centre post, X said it is required by regulations including the UK's Online Safety Act, the Irish Online Safety Code and the European Union Digital Services Act, to verify age for access to certain types of content. The company said it will take a multi-step approach. This will include age assurance using existing signals such as previous age verification, legacy verified accounts, and account creation dates. The company said where it does not have previous signals, it will look at things like user email addresses and social connections to estimate age. X said it is also planning user involved verification options that will give account holders a choice between "two secure, privacy-respecting options." Users can upload a live selfie, which will be used to estimate their age by artificial intelligence facial recognition systems. Alternatively, users can submit a government-issued ID, which will be used to estimate their age. X said these measures should be made available in the coming weeks. "If a user is determined to be under 18, they will be defaulted into sensitive media settings, and will not be able to access sensitive media," X said. "Until we are able to determine if a user is 18 or over, they may be defaulted into sensitive media settings, and may not be able to access sensitive media," the company added. X said if people believe they have had their ages incorrectly estimated as under 18, the decision can be challenged by contacting X. The company said when it comes to privacy and data handling, it will be updating its use and storage information, and that third party providers will be bound by strict data protection standards.
