If Whitegate refinery is important to economy, invest in infrastructure

The news story by Peter O’Dwyer (Irish Examiner, July 25) “that the Government has confirmed it considers the continued operation of the Whitegate refinery as central to the country’s energy security and economic prospects,” is good news for the 300 plus employees, their families and the economic growth of East Cork.

As a public representative in East Cork for the last 48 years, I have been fighting for the retention of the Whitegate refinery at county council level and from every platform available to me. During his reign, as Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte said: “The continued operation of the Whitegate refinery on a commercial basis is highly desirable. An operating refinery also adds value to the Irish economy and provides significant employment.”

This Government’s positive attitude to Whitegate will help also to progress the proposal with the Environment Dept. and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, to have the Whitegate/Midleton road classified a national road and structurally resurfaced to accommodate heavy vehicular traffic to the Whitegate industrial zone.