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Two Macs clash over rail issue
21.01.08
A SINN Féin councillor
has described as "nonsense" Deputy Joe McHugh's
claim that his push for a rail link in Donegal is
not politically motivated.
Cllr. Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said the evidence of
this lay with the fact that Fine Gael did not
support a Sinn Féin proposal at the recent budget
meeting of Donegal County Council for a dedicated
rail officer to be appointed to push for a rail
network in the county. |
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"Throughout his eight
year political career, Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh
has often claimed to be "non party political". Yet,
as a political representative for six years now, I
have yet to get a call from Deputy McHugh to join
together in any campaign," said Cllr. MacLochlainn. |
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"In relation to rail
and other matters, he has strategically and publicly
met with the SDLP's Pat Ramsey on a number of
occasions. He trumpets their political alliance
again and again in the media. Is this what he calls
'non party political'?"
Cllr. MacLochlainn said Fine Gael and the SDLP were
"more than welcome" to form a political alliance in
the region.
"But I will not stand by and let them describe their
exclusive initiatives as "non party political',"
said Cllr. MacLochlainn.
Deputy McHugh last week launched a public petition
to get a rail network restored to the North West.
But Sinn Féin say they have been fighting
strenuously for rail in the county including a
unanimously supported Council motion last year for a
feasibility study to be included in the Donegal
County Development Plan.
They say their colleague, the North's Regional
Development Minister, Conor Murphy has come to
Donegal to meet rail campaigners and has also
committed to investing more than £600m in the Derry/
Belfast rail link.
"In the last fortnight, I joined Senator Pearse
Doherty, Raymond McCartney, MLA and Minister Conor
Murphy at a regional development meeting where we
discussed the need for a Derry to Sligo rail link,
incorporating a link to Letterkenny," added Cllr.
MacLochlainn. |
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