Mayo Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin challenge EU Commission on airport funding

Published: 31 August, 2006

Sinn Féin's General Candidate in Mayo, Councillor Gerry Murray has welcomed the decision by Sinn Féin to send a high powered delegation to meet the EU Transport Commissioner in order to ensure that the EU does not veto any proposed funding for Ireland West Airport Knock. Sinn Féin's Vice President Pat Doherty MP, MEP Bairbre de Brún and Caoimghín Ó Caolain TD will meet the EU's transport commissioner Jaques Barrot in Strasburg in order to prevent the Commission vetoing funding for Ireland West Airport Knock. The Department of Transport have indicated that the Commission has issues with funding for regional airports on the basis that such funding may contravene certain EU directives and regulations.

In a statement Councillor Murray said, "This whole debacle is testimony to the amount of economic sovereignty that successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments have relinquished to Europe. We now find ourselves in a set of circumstances where an Irish Government is unable to fund a critical piece of infrastructure such as Ireland West Airport Knock unless it gets permission from the EU. The Sinn Féin delegation will be letting the Commission know that we will oppose any attempt by the EU to block exchequer funding for Ireland West Airport Knock or indeed any other similar projects. It's a sad reflection on Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, the PD's, the IFA and IBEC, that the Sinn Féin leadership have to go to Strasburg in order to try and secure approval of funding for Ireland West Airport Knock.

"This is just one of the reasons why Sinn Féin is calling for a serious debate on the future priorities and directions of the EU. This is a debate between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who want to see more powers taken away from national parliaments and given to unaccountable officials and Sinn Féin who want an EU where all Members States are treated equally and co-operate in the interests of all.

"The European elites need to be aware that many people across rural Ireland are alarmed by its continuing and relentless privatization agenda, militarization, centralization of power and the downgrading of its social and environmental commitments. In fact a European Constitution can only consolidate all of these things. Instead of demonizing those who reject the EU Constitution, the EU elites should listen more closely to the concerns of people right across Europe."