Stable NI could 'match Celtic Tiger's roar'
Northern Ireland could match the roar of the Celtic Tiger economy in the Irish Republic if it gets stable devolved government, it was claimed today.
Democratic Unionist deputy leader Peter Robinson set out his vision of a vibrant Northern Ireland economy during a conference in Belfast attended by Irish Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin and businessmen.
The East Belfast MP told the conference organised by the financial firm KPMG stable devolved government would require a total end of criminal and paramilitary activity by the IRA – a goal, he claimed, the North‘s politicians were edging closer to.
And he also spelt out his willingness to work as a minister with the Irish Government on matters of mutual interest while also competing with the Republic for economic investment.
Mr Robinson said: “There is much that needs to be done in terms of creating the environment where the Northern Irelad economy can compete and prosper but the greatest single boost we could receive is a stable political environment where the violence and conflict of the last 40 years is seen as a thing of the past.
“In practical terms this means a stable and functioning devolved government in the province.
“This requires a total end to criminal and paramilitary activity by the IRA.
“That point has not yet arrived but I do believe that we are now closer to it than at any point in the last generation.
“It is vital that we reach the point of completion as quickly as possible.”
The DUP deputy leader was commenting as Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain prepared to meet Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern in Hillsborough Castle next Monday.
Those discussions will be followed with a day of talks involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Northern Ireland Assembly parties.
The parties have been given by the two leaders until November 24 to form a power sharing executive – a task which will not be easy given the level of mistrust and suspicion between Sinn Féin and the DUP.
