Inland waterways and a shared island

Proposed registration charge is a step backwards

Sir, – The revised Waterways Ireland Shannon navigation byelaws propose the introduction of a €200 annual registration charge on the Shannon navigation which will not only abolish the right to free boating on the river, which has existed since time immemorial, but will also effectively ban Northern Ireland/Erne-registered vessels from entering the Shannon navigation. This is surely an unexpected outcome, especially as it is being brought about by a North-South implementation body set up by the Belfast Agreement to foster and encourage connections, not destroy them. – Yours, etc,

JIM O’RIORDAN,

Chairman,

Inland Waterways

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Association of Ireland,

Monkstown,

Co Dublin.