The £18 million Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile, the new 80m tender for Irish lighthouses, sailed into Dun Laoghaire harbour in Co Dublin yesterday.
On board was the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, who has a substantial interest. The Government committed £7 million towards the cost of the new ship.
The North's then agriculture minister, Ms Brid Rodgers, had been invited for yesterday's trip from Wicklow to Dublin before last week's events took over.
The Commissioners of Irish Lights is an all-island body administering 283 navigational aids around the coast.
The new Granuaile replaces the lighthouse/buoy tender, Granuaile II, which has been in operation for 30 years.
The 80m ship's hull was built in Romania and then fitted out by Damen Shipyards in Holland.
With a speed of 13 knots and a bollard pull of 50 tonnes, the ship's primary role is servicing navigational aids, but it will also be available for search-and-rescue, pollution response and emergency towing. Helicopter landing facilities have been incorporated.
The Minister described the vessel yesterday as a further reassurance to mariners that "safety is in excellent hands". The ship was a testimony to co-operation between these islands, and would be of considerable benefit to all of Ireland. Also aboard was the chairman of the Commissioners, Mr Michael Maclaran.
