Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said plans for a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland should be "examined" and not "dismissed out of hand".
Last year, Architect Alan Dunlop told The National that the potential crossing would be possible – with our front page exclusive causing quite a stir at the time.
Since then, Boris Johnson has revealed that civil servants at the Deprtment of Transport are already working on plans that could make the bridge a reality, linking Larne with Stranraer.
In September the PM claimed the 20-mile link would cost close to £15 billion.
READ MORE: Is bridge plan proof that Boris Johnson reads The National?
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Varadkar said: “Prime Minister Johnson is genuinely interested in taking a serious look at this idea of building a bridge between Antrim and Scotland.”
“I know people dismiss it, but I don’t. It needs to be looked at. It needs to be at least examined.
“I’ve seen what the Chinese have got… 100km-long bridges. I don’t know if it is viable but I also don’t think it should be dismissed out of hand and I know he is particularly excited about that one.”
The longest bridge in the world is currently the 102-mile Danyang-Kunshan bridge in China, which cost £6.5 billion to build.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel