Stormont finance minister sees bridge site

THE North’s new finance minister, Mairtín O Muilleoir, joined his Sinn Fein colleagues, including party leader and Louth TD Gerry Adams, Caitriona Ruane South Down MLA and Louth Councillor Jim Loughran to meet the Narrow Water Bridge Community Network group on the site of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge in Warrenpoint.

The North-South Ministerial Council meeting next week will receive a report on the project and Minister O Muilleoir spent time looking at the site.

Mr Adams commended the work of the Narrow Water Bridge Community Network and all of the campaigners who have been active on this project for decades.

He said: ‘I want to welcome the positive comments of Minister O Muilleoir. The minister said that he is a ‘strong advocate of bridge building both physical and metaphorical between our peoples.

‘I am inspired by the commitment of communities on both sides of the border to deliver the Narrow Water bridge project’.

The campaign to construct a bridge at Narrow Water is decades old. It is, the Sinn Fein leader said, ‘a vital piece of infrastructure for the Mourne, Gullion and Cooley region’.

The Narrow Water Bridge Community Network presented a clear cogent argument in support of the proposed bridge which is a cross community and cross border project.

It is included in the Irish Government’s 2016-2021 Capital Investment Plan. An Oireachtas Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation committee recently reported that it is essential to the economic development of the region and the Fresh Start Agreement in the North mandated the Northern Executive and Southern Government to review and develop the project.

The Executive Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has also expressed his support for this project.

Mr Adams said: ‘ There is a need for a correspondingly positive response from Minister Noonan and the Minister for Transport Shane Ross.

‘ The Irish government has a key role to play in providing funding and helping to secure European money to ensure the success of the campaign’.

Stormont Finance Minister Mairtín O Muilleoir (centre) looks at plans for the Narrow Water Bridge at the proposed site in Warrenpoint last week. He was joined by Gerry Adams (far left) and Cllr. Jim Loughran (far right).