Robinson argues for British Isles transport co-operation

Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson has underlined his commitment to fostering co-operation throughout the British Isles during a keynote address at major conferences in Belfast and Glasgow.

On the first leg of a busy schedule, he welcomed international delegates to the Ireland-Harvard Conference at the Waterfront Hall, before flying to Glasgow to attend a conference on approaches to transport in the context of devolution across the UK along with Ministers from Scotland and Wales.

He said: “In the past 12 months the assembly has agreed two groundbreaking documents – the Regional Development Strategy and the Regional Transportation Strategy. As Northern Ireland continues to grow and develop, both strategies have the potential to facilitate economic development, enhance accessibility, promote balanced regional growth, overcome social exclusion and improve the quality of life of all our citizens.

“That is particularly so along the Eastern Seaboard Corridor, which forms a strategic spine to the future of positioning of Northern Ireland in the wider European context.

“Having agreed both strategies we now have to make headway on their implementation. Both are earthed in a partnership approach and partnerships are being nurtured between regional and local government, the public and private sector and with the voluntary and community sector.”

The Minister stated that improving roads on the Eastern Seaboard Corridor from Larne, through Belfast, to the border south of Newry was one of his key priorities.

He said: “Clearly roads do not stop at the border and DRD officials are working alongside the National Roads Authorities and Louth County Council on progress along the Newry to the border to Dundalk scheme.”

The Minister stressed the importance of sustainable development throughout his speech referring to the recent Earth Summit in Johannesburg and he emphasised the need to have a modern agenda for cities that ensures they play a full part in delivering national goals for sustainable development and social equity.

In the afternoon, Mr Robinson joined his Ministerial colleagues, Ian Gray from the Scottish Executive and Sue Essex from the Welsh Assembly in addressing the Transport Devolution and Integration conference organised by the Scottish Transport Studies Group.

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