13 Sep 2012, 18:06
The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement today met to discuss the upgrading of cross border national roads with local council representatives in the northwest.
13 September 2012
Addressing the Committee were councillors and senior officials from Monaghan and Donegal County Councils, Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council, Derry City Council, and Omagh and Strabane District Councils. Much of the discussion focussed on the upgrade of N2/A5 route. Last year, the Irish Government announced it was deferring funding for the Aughnacloy to Derry section of the project until 2015.
Committee Chairman Joe McHugh TD says: “Reflecting the aims of the Good Friday Agreement, our Committee is working to explore all practical ways towards cooperation and reconciliation. The meeting today was a significant milestone, bringing together councillors from both sides of the border together in public for the first time to discuss the delivery of this critical piece of infrastructure.
“Discussions on a shared future for the island are sometimes aspirational in nature but our meeting today was centred on a tangible project, the delivery of which will unleash significant benefits for the citizens of the northwest.”
“We thank the members and officials of the local authority areas for a cohesive and persuasive presentation. Development of the northwest region has long been stifled by a lack of adequate transport links. This was a valuable opportunity to engage with political voices on the ground, in local authority areas with much to gain from the proposed projects.
“It was also a strongly attended meeting by Committee Members from across the country, who recognise the imperative for regional development. We take on board the local representatives’ calls for our Committee to explore all potential funding avenues to delivery a dual carriageway link to the northwest by 2020, through political dialogue in Dublin, Belfast, London and Brussels.
“Committee Members for their part will advance the compelling arguments heard today with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and British Prime Minister David Cameron MP, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar TD, Northern Ireland Executive Minister Danny Kennedy MLA and the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers MP, among others. Our Committee also intends to meet with the major construction companies on the A5 road project in the short to medium term.”
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Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Peter Fitzpatrick, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Dominic Hannigan, Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Martin McAleese, Mary Moran, Mary White.
Chairman: Joe McHugh, TD Vice-Chairman: Joe O'Reilly, TD