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Life-line for Lough Foyle ferry
13.05.09
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THE FOYLE ferry has
been thrown a life-line with the imminent scrapping
of security checkpoints at Magilligan costing
£100,000 a year. |
Sinn Féin Regional
Development Minister in the North, Conor Murphy
yesterday secured a commitment from the British
Government to remove the expensive security
operation at the port. The move was welcomed by Sinn
Féin candidate for Europe, Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn.
“I welcome Conor’s commitment |
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to this issue. These
measures were a serious financial liability on the
ferry service. They were also completely ludicrous
as there are no security checkpoints whatsoever on
the alternative route by road," said Cllr
MacLochlainn.
“The Magilligan to Greencastle ferry is a fantastic
resource which enhances employment opportunities and
tourism in both Donegal and Derry cutting the
journey time between Inishowen and County Derry to
15 minutes.
“I hope Conor Murphy’s intervention will go a long
way to securing its long-term future.”
Meanwhile, Senator Keaveney said: “The future of the
Foyle ferry was being hampered by the economic noose
that was the security needed to fulfil this
international port status. Not only was this a
financial disaster but the existence of a cage for
passengers leaving the North was a poor reflection
of where our peace process was at.
“I argued the case that under previous legislation
establishing the Republic and, most recently the
Good Friday Agreement, there was no legal framework
for designating this anything other than a domestic
service." |
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