10/12/2001

Empey discusses future of Giant’s Causeway Visitors’ Centre

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, has met a delegation of councillors from Moyle District Council to discuss the way forward on the Visitors’ Centre at the Giant’s Causeway.

A decision to hold the meeting followed the Council’s decision earlier last week to abandon the sale of the property.

Reiterating his hope that any development at the site would have to ensure the retention and enhancement of its World Heritage status, the Minister said: “It must also be safeguarded for future generations and development must therefore reflect the site’s status, be environmentally sensitive and ensure that it is operated and promoted to world class standards.

“Responsibility for the future of the site ultimately rests with Moyle District Council but I have offered my support and that of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to help them through this difficult situation.

“The Councillors have undertaken to keep me updated and I have offered to meet with them in the near future to discuss progress.

Sir Reg added that as a World Heritage site, the Giant’s Causeway was the jewel in Northern Ireland’s tourism crown and that any development on the site would be subject to planning and environmental regulations which were the responsibility of the Department of the Environment. (MB)

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