Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister's candid response. I reassure the Minister that Louth County Council has reconfirmed that planning permission is in situon both sides, and more importantly that both planning permissions have not expired. They are in situ. To date Louth County Council has expended €2.2 million on this project. We need to follow that investment for what I consider an iconic symbol of our preparedness to continue on the road of cross-Border co-operation and to not allow that expenditure go to waste. We have had 21 years of peace. A changing of the political landscape should afford us the opportunity to commit to the Narrow Water bridge as a symbol of peace. We hear plenty of talk ABOUT building bridges. If there are people with a vision to build a bridge from Larne to Stranraer in order to link the North of Ireland and Scotland, then this project of a bridge spanning 660 m is infinitely more achievable. A development such as this would bring great trade, tourism and connectivity to both communities.

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