The Labour Party has accused the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, of "blatant political patronage" in appointing several west of Ireland Fianna Fáil supporters to three east coast harbour boards.
One of the appointments is to the largest passenger ferry port, Dún Laoghaire.
Labour's environment spokesman, Mr Éamon Gilmore, criticised Mr Fahey's decision to nominate a former Fianna Fáil county councillor, Mr Tom Welby, from his own constituency of Galway West to the board of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.
Mr Welby, who will have a round trip of 360 miles to make for each meeting, is a garage owner in Oughterard.
Like other such appointees, he will be able to claim public service expenses. The Civil Service rate of 90 cents a mile would yield €324 for each 360-mile trip. "I haven't looked into the details," Mr Welby said, when asked what expenses might be available to him.
The Minister has also appointed a Fianna Fáil councillor from Mayo, Mr Pat McHugh, to the board of Dundalk's harbour company, and a former junior Fianna Fáil minister, Mr Tom Hussey, from Glenamaddy, Co Galway, to the board of Dublin Port.
A spokesman for the Minister said all three nominees had business experience and would represent west of Ireland interests on the boards. Along with Mr Welby, the Minister has appointed a Fianna Fáil councillor, Mr Tony Fox, and a Progressive Democrats councillor, Mr Victor Boyhan.
Mr Gilmore, a candidate in Dún Laoghaire, said Mr Fahey failed to honour the spirit of the relevant legislation. "The Dún Laoghaire board already has three local authority representatives among the total of 12, and the Minister has added to this with Cllrs Fox and Boyhan."
No representative of the local business community had been appointed and the Dún Laoghaire Business Association had expressed disappointment at this, given the imminent redevelopment of Carlisle Pier which will be handled by the harbour company.
"As for appointing Mr Welby, I don't know what contribution he can make to the management, strategic planning and governance of the State's largest passenger ferry port," Mr Gilmore added.
