Mr. Francie Molloy:

The witnesses are welcome and I thank them for attending. This is an important subject and it is timely to get their views on what is happening currently.

Looking at what has happened over the past while, there was talk of a commitment to the A5 road project for example, but, unfortunately, this week we have seen the lack of commitment from the Taoiseach on this. Once again it is being used as a political football. From the role that the witnesses play in the Border region, is there any indication from an EU angle of what can be achieved, particularly from the ICBAN? As a past member of the network, I am aware of the good work that has been done over the years in trying to build the infrastructure - and in some senses on a purely commercial basis - to try to utilise the Border area.

The other issue is the A29. Although it is not directly affected, if one looks at the map, there is no direct link North or South. It is a zigzag of roads back and forwards. Unfortunately, development has been east-west with very little North-South. That is an road we are going to need, especially from a cross-Border point of view.

The big one that has not been mentioned is the circumstances of the interconnector. From mid-Ulster's perspective, the interconnector is probably one of the most crucial issues. We need it to be in place as quickly as possible. Everybody knows and appreciates the work of the engineering sector and the job creation by the sector in mid-Ulster and right across the west. This is currently being curtailed because businesses cannot expand further. I was at a recent meeting at The Rock in Pomeroy where three companies were trying to divide up the electricity supply between them. They had 900 kW between them and each one of them was looking at it all, but it could not be got. They were working with generators in a makeshift situation. If we are serious about expanding west of the Bann - which we have complained about for so long - then we need the interconnnector to be in place. Areas such as Cookstown, Magherafelt and west of the Bann could have no supply in 2020 if we do not get that connection. This is one area where we need to refocus to see what can be done to get that in place as quickly as possible.