Wales - Ireland Tunnel Link Proposed

12.00.00am GMT Tue 8th Mar 2005

A senior Irish politician at the British Irish Parliamentary Body meeting in Donegal today has called for a new link between Wales and Ireland.

Senator Paschal Mooney, a Member of the Irish Parliament's upper house, developed the idea during a plenary debate on a report on European funding brought to the Body by Michael German AM. Senator Mooney proposed a tunnel be constructed between Pembrokeshire and Wexford.

Commenting on the proposal Michael German said: "This is an idea worthy of exploration. The economy of West Wales would benefit enormously by a fixed link with Ireland.

"The distance between the two countries is about twice that of the Channel tunnel between England and France. Whilst the costs would be very large we need to assess the impact this would have in the economy of the whole of West Wales.

"The new fixed link between Denmark and Sweden has produced very positive results for jobs and the economies of both countries. We need to know the same would be likely to happen in Wales.

"I am today calling on the First Minister to open negotiations with the UK and Irish governments to fund a study of whether a Wales/Ireland tunnel would make economic sense and produce real benefits for our people. The scale of the project might appear enormous but we should find out whether this proposal could produce the long term economic benefits which West Wales so desperately needs.

Senator Mooney said: "I would support the request by my colleague and ask Transport Minister Martin Cullen TD to respond positively to any approach from the First Minister of the Assembly of Wales."