Department of Transport officials are to meet with Irish Ferries, after the company said it's "unlikely" to operate a service from Rosslare to France next year.
In a statement on Twitter, Irish Ferries said: "Irish Ferries wish to inform our customers that we're unlikely to operate a service between Rosslare & France in 2019. We continue to keep this situation under review."
Irish Ferries wish to inform our customers that we're unlikely to operate a service between Rosslare & France in 2019. We continue to keep this situation under review. Our new W.B. Yeats ship will operate from Dublin to Cherbourg & is available to book on https://t.co/1rjF6XTLpL
— Irish Ferries (@Irish_Ferries) December 18, 2018
However, its WB Yeats ship will operate from Dublin to Cherbourg.
Junior Tourism Minister Brendan Griffin says the Rosslare service is important for the south-east region.
He says the ferry crossing mainly facilitates Irish tourists holidaying in France, but it also brings French and other European tourists to the area.
Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane says it's devastating news - especially given the uncertainty around Brexit.
"Obviously at a time when people were hoping for increased capacity to ensure that we protect the south-east from the worst impact of Brexit.
"And bear in mind as well that the south-east has a big agri-food sector... I think this will be a huge concern for farmers, for food producers, for the agri-food sector - obviously for passengers as well and for business generally".
