Appeal For All-Ireland Economic Solution

As today's North-South summit got underway in Dublin, the Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has appealed for the NI Executive to act collectively "to meet the challenges being posed by the current economic situation".

He said that the public spending cuts being proposed by the British government are a major island-wide challenge: "Executive Ministers attending the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meeting in Dublin are meeting to plan our response to the significant economic challenges which are facing us," the Sinn Fein Minister said.

"The reality of the economic situation and the proposed public spending cuts by the Tory-led British government means that now is the time for the Executive to act collectively to meet these challenges.

"Sinn Féin are focused on growing the island-wide economy for the benefit of all and safeguarding public services," he said.

"The NSMC is discussing common approaches to promoting economic growth through co-ordination and joint work in the development of innovation in technology and business development.

"It is also discussing how the development of joint public services can lead to enhanced services to all our people and also create savings both North and South.

"An all-Ireland approach can help protect frontline public services through the elimination of duplication and inefficiencies," he continued.

"The reality is that the economies north and south are interlinked. We need to realise the savings will come through shared public services. That is the new financial reality we face."

(BMcC/KMcA)