Action required on cost of ferry travel

10.28.00am GMT Wed 7th Nov 2007

Alliance Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn

Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has called on the Executive to review ways of making ferry travel to Scotland cheaper, to encourage tourism to Northern Ireland and boost Belfast and Larne as ports of entry for the island of Ireland.

The Lagan Valley Assembly member stated: "Competition on other routes such as Dover-Calais has driven down fares and encouraged short-break tourism and increased trade.

"We lack such competition on the Scotland-Ireland routes, which has left passengers facing vastly higher fares. This discourages trade and tourism.

"At current fares, few Scots would consider a short break in Northern Ireland, and the North Channel forms a significant barrier to trade. We need to encourage tourism and remove that barrier.

"The Executive cannot interfere in the private sector directly, but we would encourage any ideas as to how to drive down fares."

ENDS