The decision by the Government to approve natural gas connection to towns in Mayo and Galway has been warmly welcomed by Marian Harkin TD, MEP.

“I have consistently called on the Government in the interests of fairness to provide this element of competitive infrastructure to the towns of the West and North West and this decision is at least a start to that process”, she said.  The Minister, however, should have regard to the fact that Fianna Fail gained substantial political advantage prior to the last general election by announcing the imminent connection of Sligo and other towns to the gas grid, a promise that had not been kept, she said.

If fairness is to be the new ethic for Fianna Fail then the towns of Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal, and those in other areas with inferior infrastructure, must be provided with natural gas service if they are to have any chance to compete for industry and jobs in the future”, Marian Harkin TD, MEP said.