Speaking at the launch of the Atlantic Gateways Report, in Galway today, 14th September 2006, Mr Liam McElligott, Chairman, Shannon Development, said that “Working in partnership will be the key to the future. Achieving regional competitiveness is about bringing together the diverse range of private and public interests to carryout programmes of actions to create a world-class region. The Atlantic Gateways initiative is a classic example of this partnership in practice” .
The Atlantic Gateways Report was launched by Mr Dick Roche TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Report outlines the work and the results of the Atlantic Gateways Project, a two year collaboration between Shannon Development, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Regional Authorities of the West, MidWest, South West and South East Regions, and the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly, aimed at identifying how the Gateway Cities, ie, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford, could work together to create a critical mass for future economic development, and thereby achieve a significant and strategic objective of the National Spatial Strategy.
Mr McElligott said “The Atlantic Gateways initiative offers an exciting new opportunity to really secure balanced regional development in Ireland over the next 20 years. The Atlantic Gateways initiative highlights a very simple challenge - the major centres of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, have to work together if they are to really provide a serious counterweight to the Dublin/Belfast corridor. In isolation, the gateways just do not have enough critical mass to create a real complement to the eastern seaboard. But, working together in important areas, they can collectively generate a much greater economic weight than the total of their individual weights could do in isolation”.
He continued “A transformation needs to take place in how the individual cities, towns and rural areas in the Atlantic Gateways are viewed, by themselves, as well as by the private sector and government departments and agencies. Developing a new approach to planning for and delivering world class infrastructure links along the Atlantic Gateways is a critical first step towards achieving this transformation”.
Mr McElligott said “Specifically, from a Shannon Development perspective, the outcome of all this gives us a real opportunity to advance our own initiatives. The key priority for Shannon Development over the coming years will be delivering on the new mandate given to the Company by Government. Our strategy will be to maximise the economic development potential of the Shannon Region, and thereby contribute to the development of the emerging Atlantic gateways counterpole to the East Coast”.
“We see our role as integral to the national drive to build a knowledge-driven society and economy in Ireland. Our specific focus is on the Shannon Region, which we believe can become a hub of development activity at the centre of the Atlantic Gateways and a key instrument for delivering the national policy goal of balanced regional development” concluded Mr McElligott.
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Nandi O’Sullivan
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