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. "