Mr. Jim Boylan:

I thank all members for their support for the project. Someone inquired as to what we were seeking the joint committee to do. This is part of the Good Friday Agreement which, as we see it, is between the two Governments. In that context, pressure should be brought to bear on them.

We have met everyone in politics bar the Finance Minister - that is an issue in itself. As business people we can see it moving forward, and as ordinary people we have moved a long way ahead of the politics of it. I am in the Warrenpoint, Burren & Rostrevor Chamber of Commerce, which is perceived to be Nationalist, and yet we work well with the Kilkeel Chamber of Commerce, which is perceived to be Unionist, but we do not see the difference. That is an example of the Good Friday Agreement working. The Minister is weeks away from making a decision. The decision should be made on a level business basis with regard to people power. It should not be made on the basis of not wanting to join up with so and so.

I started this campaign approximately five years ago, and when it was first knocked back, we went out with Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Unionists. We got more than 3,000 names in one weekend to get this project up and running. This is a people's project. Politics is for the people and by the people. This is politics working. Ultimately, this is about people who must put food on the table, put oil in the tank and get to work. That is what this Narrow Water bridge is about. It cannot fail, it will not fail and it should not fail. All the politicians involved, whether from the North or South, should be backing it. It should not take six months to carry out a business plan or make a decision. If we took six months to produce a business plan in any of our businesses, we would be out of business quickly. It should not take six months. Whatever pressure can be put on whatever source should be brought to bear to point out that it is a matter, not of politics but of people. It is time that this moved on. The time is now. We only have a couple of weeks and it must not fail. It is a major European project.