SDLP councillors bring Narrow Water Bridge to Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis
SDLP Newry and Mourne Councillors Declan McAteer and Connaire McGreevy went to Dublin’s RDS with the intention of raising the importance of the Narrow Water Bridge project with the leader of Fianna Fáil.
Councillor Declan McAteer described the 74th Ard Fheis as an “important opportunity” to raise the project with another political leader on the island of Ireland.
He stated, “In the last couple of weeks we have held important meetings with both Fine Gael and Labour parties, the meeting with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny being extremely positive and this weekend we were able to bring the project to the attention of Fianna Fáil leader Micéal Martin TD.
“I am delighted that we took this important opportunity to highlight the stalling of the project by Minister Sammy Wilson and the positive response we got from Mr Martin.
“It is time political leaders in the North, particularly the deputy First Minister, publicly backed this project, and not abdicate his responsibility under the Good Friday Agreement, to ensure Narrow Water is delivered for all the people of South Down.”
The Councillors were making their comments after Minister Sammy Wilson appeared on BBC Sunday Politics show commenting on the need for people to have confidence in the economy to invest and what he described as an “upturn in the construction sector”.
Cllr McGreevy commented that “Minister Wilson has the responsibility of giving the green light to this project which will create more construction jobs in south Down and boost existing businesses during the construction period.
“Minister Wilson mentioned today that corporation tax would be a ‘game-changer’ for Northern Ireland but has failed to give south Down the ‘game-changer’ it needs in the form of the Narrow Water Bridge.
Construction firms from Northern Ireland are believed to be involved in the final stage of the procurement which would result in an added boost to the local economy with many suppliers being involved in the construction project.
Concluding, the SDLP representatives stated that it was “heartening” to hear Uachtarain Fianna Fáil Micheal Martin TD include the bridge project and refer to the current debacle in his presidential address, culminating in a successful mission to bring the project to the fore with all Fianna Fáil members and elected representatives.
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