A DELEGATION of politicians, officials and business people from Northern Ireland were due to fly into Campbeltown yesterday to join their Scottish counterparts for a summit meeting on the future of the Northern Ireland ferry.
Argyll and Bute Council will play host at Stonefield Castle Hotel, Tarbert, with Moyle Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the meeting which will see a report from the consultants hired to cast a fresh eye over the ferry’s future.
Argyll and Bute’s council leader Dick Walsh and transport spokesman Councillor Duncan MacIntyre will lead the local councillors with all three of the Kintyre councillors, Rory Colville, Donald Kelly and John Semple invited to attend as are Councillors Anne Horne, Robin Currie and John McAlpin. Campbeltown Community Council chairman Jim Martin has also been invited to attend.
From the opposite side of the North Channel Moyle Council is sending its leader Madeline Black, and councillors Robert McIlroy, Seamus Blaney, William Graham and Cathal Newcome.
The MLAs taking part are Robert Coulter, Mervyn Storey Declan O’Loan and from the Scottish Parliament will be Jim Mather MSP; Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute will also attend.
Business interests will also be represented; Vestas, First Milk, West Coast Motors and Campbeltown Trading Association are also on the list of those invited; the agenda includes a presentation from the Dalriada Business Action Group. From the Irish side there is a mix of business people tourism representatives and council officials.
