Ahern hails Anglo-Irish business relations
An all-island economy offers the best future for the North, the Taoiseach will tell UK business leaders today.
In his keynote address to the Confederation of British Industry in London, Bertie Ahern will also emphasise the productive Anglo-Irish partnership forged with British prime minister Tony Blair over the past decade.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and Conservative Party leader David Cameron are also keynote speakers at the two-day annual conference at the Business Design Centre in Islington.
The Taoiseach’s spokesman said: “The Taoiseach will highlight the importance of relations between Britain and Ireland.
“In that context, he will underline the significance of the partnership that has developed between the two governments and their determination to achieve stability and peace in Northern Ireland.
“He will also address the question of the island economy and a future of co-operation in its development.”
Mr Ahern will also emphasise the key factors which continue to make Ireland a competitive economy for the IT, pharmaceuticals and other knowledge-based sectors.
“In addition to a competitive fiscal environment, a skilled labour force and a positive attitude towards enterprise, the Taoiseach will emphasise the importance of stability and confidence in facing up to change as a result of our social partnership process, and the increasing emphasis on our capacity in science and technology in support of research and development,” the spokesman said.
“He will highlight the growing significance of investment in R&D facilities here by blue chip companies across the globe.”
