Mr. Pat Doherty MP:

I welcome the chairmen from Donegal and Strabane, along with the rest of the delegation. I think this presentation may be unique because everyone in the room is in agreement. We all want this to happen.
Councillor John Campbellwas correct that this began with the St. Andrews Agreement but the mechanism for progress is the North-South Ministerial Council and that is where we must focus our attention for practical implementation. There are two Johns here from Donegal so I will ask them both the following question. What has been the response of the Irish Government to its commitment to complete the N14 connection with the A5, south of Strabane and Letterkenny? We are very aware of what is happening with the A5, including the court case and the fact that 11 of the 12 points made against the A5 were thrown out. One point was upheld and there is a new timescale for the road. We must go through the various procedures and the programme has been laid out but I wonder whether each stage must take so long.
Regarding the section of road from Ballygawley to Aughnacloy, I am worried by the fact that there is not a programme to lay out the draft vesting and direction orders in the North. The reason given is uncertainty as to where the N2 will make the connection so clarity on this would be welcome. The delegates from County Monaghan might know more on this. Where will the N2 meet the A5? If this is not watched properly we could end up with another road in the North linking Derry to Belfast, via Ballygawley. There has not been enough focus on the section of road from Ballygawley to Aughnacloy.