Sinn Féin delegation meet North West Gateway Initiative to discuss infrastructure and development in region

Published: 21 September, 2006

Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty today led a party delegation including Bairbre de Brún MEP and Barry McElduff MLA to meet with the Joint Chairs of the North West Gateway Initiative.

The meeting took place in Strabane and was held to explore the remit, work plan and implementation framework of the Gateway Initiative. During the meeting the Sinn Féin delegation stressed the importance of active engagement with groups and individuals in the North West at all stages of the formation and implementation of future plans.

They also emphasized the need for formal ministerial meetings to drive the agenda forward in developing the North West area through active cross border work.

Speaking today Mr Doherty said:

"We raised the lack of road, rail and energy networks in the region. I specifically raised with the Department of Transport representative local demands for infrastructure and development around the N14/A5/N2 road route. I conveyed to him the outcome of my recent meetings in Strasbourg with the EU Transport Commissioner.

Ms de Brún said:

"Today's meeting was a positive engagement, and a commitment to future discussions was agreed. Officials also undertook to forward us further information in regards to this issue."

Governments should not squander EU support for infrastructure improvements

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty says that his party will be maintaining the pressure on both governments to redress the transport infrastructure deficit in the northwest and border counties after the party secured the pro-active support of EU Transport Commissioner Jacque Barrot for the campaign to upgrade the N14, A5, N2 strategic transport corridor to a uniform motorway/dual carriageway standard.

The West Tyrone MP said,

"Last week's meeting in Strasbourg between a Sinn Féin delegation and EU Transport Commissioner Jacque Barrot was highly productive as it will increase pressure on both governments to take joint action to redress the transport infrastructure deficit in the northwest and border counties."

"We outlined our case in detail presenting Commissioner Barrot with a map of the island of Ireland clearly outlining the gap in infrastructural development to and in the North West. We also highlighted the social, economic, and political impact of partition on the region and the neglect of successive administrations North and South".

"The Commissioner acknowledged the gap in infrastructure and was clearly convinced by the case made. He assured us that he will write to the relevant British and Irish Ministers inviting them to adopt a joint approach to progress the issue and also undertook to speak to the EU Commissioner for Regional Development, Danuta Hübner to bring the issue to her attention as such an infrastructural project would also fall within the remit of her department."

"The support and goodwill at EU Commission level for the case to upgrade the N14,A5, N2 strategic transport corridor to a motorway/dual carriageway standard must now be grasped by both governments, and the coming weeks Sinn Fein will be increasing the pressure on both governments to avail of this opportunity by focusing on the issue in a formalized and integrated manner. "