McGuinness Backs All-island Economy

There has been a further call for an all-island economy to be established.

The NI Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness delivered a speech at the weekend on building an all-Ireland economy.

He was speaking at the Sinn Fein 'Uniting Ireland Conference', held in Newry.

During the course of a wide-ranging address Mr McGuinness said: "Our economic needs do not register with policy makers in London.

"What can have the biggest impact on our economy is the situation in the South.

"Our economies are interconnected and interdependent. This is not a political aspiration but a statement of economic fact. We believe that greater cooperation across Ireland will deliver more for all our people than the existing competition between our regions," he said.

"Given that economic reality Sinn Fein believes frank, open and objective discussion to develop an all Ireland plan to promote jobs, economic growth, innovation and export threatens no one's identity and benefits us all.

"Indeed I think in recent years there has been an ever increasing willingness by unionists particularly those in business to look sensibly at greater all Ireland working which benefits us all," he added.

"The 'real politick' of delivering proper healthcare, education and in other areas like infrastructure mean that increasingly political unionism must look to all-Ireland co-operation as a sensible way forward in delivering effective public services."

All Ireland

He went on to say that the route to recovery must look beyond the old economic system and to the ability of the 32 Counties to contribute to a sustainable and competitive economy.

"The increase in cross border trade, banking and insurance regulation and the potential of an all-Ireland energy market have demonstrated the interlinked and inter-dependent nature of economies, north and south.

"The private sector has moved ahead of the Dáil and the Assembly, reflecting the reality that the all-island economy makes good business sense," he claimed.

"There are just over 6.4 million people on our island. Existing economic strategies north and south are targeted at high value, high cost jobs and innovation, research and development, yet we have two separate education systems and disjointed and uncoordinated third level sectors and isolated industries.

"This situation is bad economics, it is bad politics and it is bad for ordinary people - nationalist and unionist alike," concluded the Stormont Executive Minister and MP.

(BMcC/GK)