Eurolink News

Western Rail Corridor ‘essential’ says EU Transport Committee (26/2/09)

February 26, 2009 at 7:03 pm Leave a comment

The head of the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee has described the Western Rail Corridor as ‘an essential project for the west of Ireland’. British MEP Brian Simpson was speaking after a delegation from the committee spent three days visiting Ireland examining how to boost transport and tourism infrastructure in the west.
The group, which included Irish MEPs Sean O Neachtain and Jim Higgins, visited a section of the rehabilitated Western Rail Corridor in Ardrahan, County Galway, where they were given a presentation by Project Manager Sinéad Clair. They also met leading representatives of business, agricultural and environmental groups in the region, and were briefed by Fianna Fáil TD Frank Fahy on the future development of Shannon Airport.
Addressing the delegation, Mayor of Clare Madeleine Taylor Quinn called for better recognition in EU transport policy of Ireland’s status as an island nation on the edge of Europe. She said that Ireland’s competitiveness had been ‘undermined’ by transport rules geared toward continental countries, particularly with regard to grant support for airlines and ferries. ‘Greater equality in relation to accessibility into the European mainland market must be introduced in the interests of fair play for all EU member states,’ she said.

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