Donegal Sinn Féin Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has said the north west region is more economically and socially endangered by Brexit than any other part of Ireland and the UK.
The Senator was speaking following a meeting attended by Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald with senior council officials and civic leaders from Derry and Donegal on Wednesday.
Also in attendance were Sinn Féin public representatives including Senator Mac Lochlainn and Donegal Councillors Jack Murray and Albert Doherty.
Deputy McDonald received a joint presentation from the Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council, John Kelpie on the vision for the North West City Region and the plans for the cross border region.
Senator Mac Lochlainn described yesterday’s meeting was an important engagement, saying: “We are proud of the steps made over recent years to break down the impact of the border on the lives of our people in this region.
“In particular, the visionary leadership of the Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council, John Kelpie and the Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely in advancing the concept of the North West City Region of Donegal, Derry and West Tyrone that has led to our central place in the Project Ireland 2040 plans.”
Senator Mac Lochlainn said that Government commitments to NW regional plans must be fast-tracked so that the area can catch up with the rest of the island.
He said: “The North West Cancer Centre, the progression of the A5 and A6 Donegal and Derry to Dublin and Belfast roads, the NorthWest Greenway and the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the Higher Education Authorities in Donegal and Derry are all further examples of how we are stronger working together in the North West”.
“However all of this progress is severely threatened by the British Tory and DUP inspired shambles of Brexit. No community and no region on these two islands are more economically and socially endangered by Brexit than the North West of Ireland.
“And the voices of our local businesses and our local civic leaders must be heard at home and in Europe more than ever. There can be no complacency in Donegal, Derry and West Tyrone. Thanks to the political chaos and shambolic antics of the British Tories and the DUP, we could be heading towards the rocks,” said Senator Mac Lochlainn.
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