Ritchie 'spinning' Border bridge story

Sinn Féin has accused SDLP Minister Margaret Ritchie of wrongly claiming credit for a €390,000 feasibility study into the provision of a cross-Border bridge over Carlingford Lough.

Ms Ritchie announced the feasibility study had been agreed last Thursday after talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern at the North-South Ministerial Council in Dundalk.

The Department of Transport is examining plans for the bridge between counties Louth and Down at Narrow Water.

Sinn Féin South Down Assembly member Willie Clarke said Ms Ritchie was "grabbing headlines" and "claiming victories which were "not hers" as there was agreement to move ahead with a feasibility study for the bridge last year.

Mr Clarke criticised the "feeble attempt" to claim credit for the project by the Social Development Minister. It "smacks of trying to grab headlines when what is needed is a long-term strategic commitment to delivering the bridge at Narrow Water . . .".

It is hoped the bridge would reduce the journey from Newry to Carlingford by 20 minutes.

"It is no longer just a concept. It is now a live project," the SDLP Minister said.

"The bridge will be a living symbol of our growing co-operation," Ms Ritchie added.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times