Mayo businesses will benefit from a new EU wide recovery plan agreed by European leaders including the Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD and Foreign Affairs Minister Mícheál Martin TD, according to Deputy Dara Calleary.
“Ireland is set to benefit from a €5 billion EU recovery plan. The new plan will deliver cheaper, cleaner, power to Mayo, improve broadband access and protect jobs,” Dep Calleary outlined.
“The EU will provide €110 million for an electricity inter-connector between Ireland and Wales, and this will open up the energy market for businesses in Mayo and across the country. This will open up the market by reducing the need for gas imports to fuel our power stations. Ireland will also get funding to improve broadband in communities across Mayo. Securing high speed Internet access will ensure that businesses in our communities will be able to compete with any other location in the EU for new industry.
“This package is a clear example of the direct benefit Mayo and Ireland receives by being at the heart of Europe. My colleagues the Taoiseach and Minister Martin are working to ensure we continue to have a central role in Europe so as we can continue benefiting from investments and supports such as this. By working together the EU will ensure the best outcome from this time of economic uncertainty.”
Dep Calleary added that over the coming weeks both the Taoiseach and Minister Martin will be working to help secure the strongest possible guarantees to address the concerns of voters in Mayo about the Lisbon Treaty. “Minister Martin assures me that the Government's priority is to get robust guarantees to address issues such as neutrality, taxes, and workers’ rights. The Government remains on track to secure those guarantees by the middle of the year. I will be remaining in close contact with both the Taoiseach and Minister Martin during this period to ensure that concerns of people in Mayo are addressed before we vote in a new referendum,” concluded Dep Calleary.
