Ferry service must be in place for tourist season: Mullan

He said: “This service is vital to the development of tourism on both sides of the border both in Donegal and the Causeway Coast.

“It is unthinkable that it would remain tied up this summer and for that reason I welcome commercial interest in its future.

“It has always been my view that the service should be on a competitive tendering basis with the successful operator getting the work on merit. This in no way absolves both the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly from taking an active interest in its future whether directly or through the Loughs Agency or local authorities.

“The main issue is that transport infrastructure in the North West is underdeveloped and needs massive investment if we are to compete with other parts of the island whether commercially or in tourism.

“The public needs to be kept informed or any progress that is made on this issue which should never have been allowed to get to a state where it was abandoned. That is an indication of failure and the SDLP does not do failure.”