Niamh Smyth welcomes new N3 Motorway but is dismayed at Sinn Féin and Labour’s previous opposition

Local Fianna Fáil County Councillor Niamh Smyth has welcomed the Official Opening of the new M3 Motorway from Clonee to Kells. Cllr. Smyth who attended the official opening in Navan with Minister Noel Dempsey and her Fianna Fáil colleagues from Co. Meath said that ‘this is a fantastic piece of infrastructure and will do wonders for both the people of Cavan and Meath. This new motorway will better link our rural towns to the capital and allow businesses to prosper.’

‘It will allow our businesses get their products to the largest market in the country far quicker and commuters from Cavan will have over an hour extra in their day to spend with their families now that the journey time has been decreased’

“In spite of all these positives being known when the M3 was first conceived and construction began, politicians from Labour and Sinn Féin were opposed to this motorway.”

So opposed to the M3 were Labour that they proposed a motion in Dáil Éireann opposing it. Their current leader, Eamon Gilmore who was their Environment Spokesperson at the time called on Fianna Fáil and the Government to ‘pull back’ I can honestly say that I am absolutely proud of Fianna Fáil for not listening to the Nay Sayers in Labour or Sinn Féin and for proceeding with this massively significant piece of infrastructure.

“While there were objections based on the proximity to the Hill of Tara and other archaeological sites, the NRA were able to allay the concerns of most by pointing out that the M3 was well outside the buffer zone that protects Tara. We would never risk our heritage” said Cllr. Smyth

'This road will become an artery of economic growth between the North West and the Capital and I am delighted to see that it has now opened' concluded Cllr. Smyth.