Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Donegal Deputy Mayor rejects MLAs opposition to A5 Dual Carriageway

Published: 25 August, 2010

Donegal Deputy Mayor rejects MLAs opposition to A5 Dual Carriageway

"Tom Elliot's analysis is ridiculous and mind boggling"- Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Donegal Deputy Mayor, Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has rejected comments from Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh/ South Tyrone, Tom Elliot, opposing plans for a dual carriageway from Derry to Aughnacloy. Cllr Mac Lochlainn described the Assemblyman's comments as "ridiculous and mind boggling".

Cllr Mac Lochlainn said:

"At a time when motorways have recently been completed, connecting Dublin to Belfast, Cork, Galway, and Limerick, it is simply unthinkable that Derry, the fourth largest city on the island and Donegal and the North West region would be further excluded from that process. It is amazing to me that any public representative in this region could oppose this crucial project, particularly Tom Elliot, who seeks to lead his party in the near future".

"Donegal, Derry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone have been historically discriminated against. We are the only region on the island without rail and to suggest that we will not even have parity in road infrastructure is just outrageous".

"All shades of political opinion in this region have backed this project and I have no doubt that the Irish Government will meet its responsibilities to co-fund it with the Northern authorities. My party colleague Conor Murphy, Minister for Regional Development has been widely praised for driving plans for the road forward during his tenure and whether Mr Elliott likes it or not, the days of second class citizenship for the people of the North West are over"

ENDS