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Local MEP praises Minister’s road legacy to the south-east (9th March, 2010)

March 9, 2010 at 3:33 pm Leave a comment

The €1.6 billion motorway from Waterford to Dublin, due for completion later this year, was described this week as an ‘enduring legacy’ which Minister Martin Cullen will leave to his south-east constituents. Neighbouring Kilkenny MEP Liam Aylward said the outgoing Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism successfully created a ‘huge infrastructural development’ around Waterford that helped to turn the region into a flourishing commercial hub.
‘His outstanding contribution was the motorway which we fought for together in difficult times,’ said Mr Aylward. ‘There’s also the Waterford ring road, the fantastic new bridge and more than €2 billion worth of investments that Martin Cullen managed to secure for the area,’ he added.

Mr Aylward said although the Minister’s resignation was widely expected, his decision to relinquish his Dáil seat was more of a surprise. The Fianna Fáil MEP admitted the move puts the coalition ‘in a difficult position – it’s unlikely that the government can win the three pending by-elections,’ he said.

His Fine Gael colleague Sean Kelly MEP said it was crucial for Waterford that the by-election to replace Martin Cullen is held as soon as possible. ‘The south-east is a region that has suffered a lot from the downturn; there are great efforts being made to try and get EU Globalisation Funds for Waterford Crystal workers and also to get university status for Waterford Institute of Technology, so there’s no time to waste. Waterford needs full representation in the Dáil, and it needs it now,’ said the former GAA President.

However local MEP Mairead McGuinness was more forthright. ‘There’s a general election in the air, that’s what we need at this stage, not more by-elections,’ she declared.

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