- Faoi SDLP
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Smaointe
- 1.A United Ireland
- 2.Acht na Gaeilge
- 3.Agriculture/Rural Communities
- 4.Education
- 5.Eleven Plus
- 6.Environment & Climate Change
- 7.Equality & Human Rights
- 8.Fighting Poverty
- Ionadaithe
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Tue 16th March
He said: “It has been a long and hard fought campaign for the rights of the people of South Belfast to be heard and listened to on this matter.
“There has been a very concerted campaign of political lobbying carried out on behalf of the City Airport which, if it had been allowed to go unchallenged, would have been a denial of democracy for many thousands of people.
“The people who deserve the real credit for forcing the Minister to go against the already stated views of his party leadership are the residents who have had to endure the disruption to their lives caused by an ever increasing level of noise and flights.
“We need a full and open debate on all aspects of the City Airport issue. In terms of travel it is abundantly clear that Northern Ireland requires an overarching aviation strategy, one that links up with the other elements of transport and travel. We need an all island travel strategy.”
Dr. McDonnell said he was proud, from a political perspective, to have led the fight for a Public Inquiry on behalf of so many people who had felt let down by “other political figures.”
But he warned that the battle for the rights and views of the general public was still a long way from being won.
He said: “The decision by the Minister to bow to public pressure is just the first step. We need to be mindful that there may be vested interests willing to pull out all the stops, both emotional and economic to try and force the runway extension through.
“We have to keep up the campaign and ensure that as the Public Inquiry approaches, that the views of residents and all the implications both environmental and human are fully examined.”
Email
mcdonnella@parliament.uk
Tel 028 9024 2474
Tel 028 90 52 1837
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