No statement yet from the DETI Minister, but the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, MLA and MP for Mid Ulster, has apparently been lobbying to relocate the Hibernia Atlantic telehouse for Project Kelvin in Londonderry. [But has the polit-bureau agreed? – Ed] From BBC report.
The Foyle MP Mark Durkan said “more likely than not” the telehouse will now be located in Derry. “I believe that the company, Hibernia Atlantic, is minded after all the things they’ve heard that maybe returning to the original intended location of Derry is good. “There is a contract in place, so they would have to apply to make that change and of course that has to be approved by the project board and the two departments,” he said.
Update Hibernia Atlantic is to construct the telehouse in Londonderry.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: “This is a pragmatic move by the company to advance this project forward and retain the good business reputation of Northern Ireland across the globe. “The rising level of negativity in Derry surrounding this project has created a real danger that the many benefits which Project Kelvin will deliver to local businesses and prospective investors would have been lost.” A cable landing point for the service will be in Coleraine, Co Derry.
And
The minister added: “The location of the telehouse, in the context of this project, is largely immaterial. The real benefits which will be delivered are the range of products and services which will be available at each of the eight points of presence located across Northern Ireland.
“Each location will have the same comparable costs, speed of service and infrastructure resilience. These are not dependent on the location of the telehouse and therefore, will provide an entirely level playing field.”
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