Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Fiin delegation to meet European Commissioner to press for Donegal - Dublin Motorway

Published: 17 August, 2006

A Sinn Féin delegation will travel to the European Parliament in Strasbourg

in the coming weeks to meet with the European Commissioner for Transport

Jacques Barrot.

Donegal county councilors Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn along with Sinn Fiin MP Pat Doherty, and Caoimhghmn S Caolain TD will join party colleague Bairbre

de Bruen MEP in Strasbourg where they will present the European Commission

with proposals for a "First Class" road and rail infrastructure for the

northwest and border counties including a motorway/ high quality dual

carriageway for the N14/A5/N2 main arterial route between Dublin and Donegal

Speaking today Cllr Pearse Doherty said:

"On September 1st a Sinn Fiin delegation will travel to the European

Parliament to meet with EU Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot.

Earlier this year, Sinn Féin publicly launched its proposals calling for

the radical upgrading of the road infrastructure from Donegal, Derry,

Tyrone, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Louth and right through to Meath and into

Dublin.

"The delegation will present Mr Barrot with our proposals for a

motorway/high quality dual carriageway for the N14/A5/N2 main arterial

route between Dublin and Donegal. We will also provide Mr Barrot with an

assessment of the infrastructural deficit experienced in the North West

region and the border counties.

"The European Union has a unique opportunity to assist in the

socio-economic integration of both the north and south of the country. Sinn

Féin believes that the EU can make a valuable contribution towards ending

partition in Ireland and we will take this message to Commissioner Barrot.

Cllr Doherty added:

"The people of the North West of Ireland deserve a first class road and

rail infrastructure. However, the reality remains that the North West and

border counties are amongst the greatest areas of socio-economic need and

have benefited least in terms of EU structural funding for infrastructure.

This is the message we will be taking to the European Union and both the

Irish and British Governments in the time ahead."