Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Brian Wilson (Labour), on Thursday, 17 March 1994, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 29 members in total.

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FERRY SERVICES AT BALLYCASTLE

That this House congratulates the honourable Member for North Antrim on drawing its attention to the near tragedy involving 19 schoolchildren from Rathlin Isle, resulting from the inadequacy of ferry and harbour facilities; supports the people of Rathlin Isle in their desire for a safe, modern ferry service; notes the unique qualifications of Caledonian MacBrayne to provide such a service; further notes that the provision of a linkspan at Ballycastle would open up the possibility of Caledonian MacBrayne also providing a service linking it with Campbeltown and Ardrossan, to the great benefit of all these ports; recalls that these issues were discussed at a meeting arranged by the honourable Member for Cunninghame North between the former Northern Ireland Office Minister, the honourable Member of North Wiltshire, and the managing director of Caledonian MacBrayne, Mr Colin Paterson, in 1991; further recalls with appreciation the positive response of that honourable Member to the prospect of Caledonian MacBrayne's involvement both in providing Rathlin with a service and in opening up a Ballycastle link with Scotland; deeply regrets that all these plans have stagnated since the General Election, with funding unavailable for the infrastructure which they require; expresses regret that the United Kingdom government is not prepared to accord the basic means of survival to a hardworking island community which, if it were in Scotland, would have had a proper, safe ferry service years ago; and calls on the Northern Ireland Office to enter immediate discussions with Caledonian MacBrayne with a view to achieving the twin goals of a modern ferry service for Rathlin Isle and a new ferry link between Ballycastle, Campbeltown and Ardrossan.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

FERRY SERVICES AT BALLYCASTLE (896A1)

The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Baroness Hoey (primary, Labour) and tabled on Wednesday, 23 March 1994. It has been signed by 4 members in total.

leave out from 'on' to end and add 'his continuing campaign to have the harbour at Rathlin Island and Ballycastle made more safe; recognises the need for continued modernization of the boats linking Rathlin to Ballycastle; recognises that this boat service must be acceptable to the islanders; supports the people of Rathlin in their desire to maintain jobs for the islanders running the present boat service; and urges Her Majesty's Government to financially support the renewal of these boats when that is necessary.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

896 

896A1 

Session

1993-94

Subjects

Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries Northern Ireland Ports Ballycastle Rathlin Island

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk