Menu
29/04/2019
Business Groups Welcome New Talks To Restore Institutions
Business groups in Northern Ireland have welcomed the new political talks process due to begin next week to restore the Assembly and government institutions.
Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Manufacturing NI released a statement following the announcement last week that fresh negotiations will begin following the local elections this Thursday, 02 May.
It comes after over two years without a fully functioning executive, with the main parties- the DUP and Sinn Fein- remaining split on key divisive issues.
The Chief Executives of the three business organisations, Glyn Roberts, Colin Neill and Stephen Kelly said a fourth strand should be added to the negotiation process to include key civic society organisations.
Their statement reads: "As the leading representative organisations of three sectors, we welcome these talks and urge all the participants to go the extra mile for an inclusive agreement to restore the institutions.
"We need the Executive restored and local Ministers making the key budgetary decisions based on sound evidence-based policy. The business community deserves more than a 'care and maintenance' administration and badly thought out emergency budgets.
"In these talks we need to see real leadership by our local political parties and an end to the blame game. 2019 cannot be yet another year with no government, no political progress and economic stagnation.
"With much-needed decisions not being made on reform of business rates and infrastructure investment, not addressing an ever-growing skills gap and modernisation of our town centres, Northern Ireland is not just lagging behind the rest of the UK and Ireland, it is in real danger of being left behind internationally.
"We believe that a fourth strand should be established in these talks to include key civic society organisations supporting the parties in building a genuine partnership approach to a rebooted economic agenda and a radically different and more ambitious programme for government."
The fresh talks process was announced last week in a joint statement by Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar following widespread calls for progress in the wake of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee.
The two premiers said the aim of the talks process is to "quickly reestablish" full operation of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, the NI executive assembly and North-South Ministerial Council.
(JG/CM)
Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Manufacturing NI released a statement following the announcement last week that fresh negotiations will begin following the local elections this Thursday, 02 May.
It comes after over two years without a fully functioning executive, with the main parties- the DUP and Sinn Fein- remaining split on key divisive issues.
The Chief Executives of the three business organisations, Glyn Roberts, Colin Neill and Stephen Kelly said a fourth strand should be added to the negotiation process to include key civic society organisations.
Their statement reads: "As the leading representative organisations of three sectors, we welcome these talks and urge all the participants to go the extra mile for an inclusive agreement to restore the institutions.
"We need the Executive restored and local Ministers making the key budgetary decisions based on sound evidence-based policy. The business community deserves more than a 'care and maintenance' administration and badly thought out emergency budgets.
"In these talks we need to see real leadership by our local political parties and an end to the blame game. 2019 cannot be yet another year with no government, no political progress and economic stagnation.
"With much-needed decisions not being made on reform of business rates and infrastructure investment, not addressing an ever-growing skills gap and modernisation of our town centres, Northern Ireland is not just lagging behind the rest of the UK and Ireland, it is in real danger of being left behind internationally.
"We believe that a fourth strand should be established in these talks to include key civic society organisations supporting the parties in building a genuine partnership approach to a rebooted economic agenda and a radically different and more ambitious programme for government."
The fresh talks process was announced last week in a joint statement by Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar following widespread calls for progress in the wake of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee.
The two premiers said the aim of the talks process is to "quickly reestablish" full operation of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, the NI executive assembly and North-South Ministerial Council.
(JG/CM)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
15 January 2019
NI Parties Meet To Address Ongoing Political Impasse
Northern Ireland's political parties have met to discuss the ongoing political impasse, over two years since the institutions at Stormont collapsed. Alliance leader Naomi Long called for the meeting on Monday 14 January, and reiterated her request for an independent chair to oversee the new talks process.
NI Parties Meet To Address Ongoing Political Impasse
Northern Ireland's political parties have met to discuss the ongoing political impasse, over two years since the institutions at Stormont collapsed. Alliance leader Naomi Long called for the meeting on Monday 14 January, and reiterated her request for an independent chair to oversee the new talks process.
26 April 2019
New Political Talks Process Confirmed
Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have announced that new talks, aimed at restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland, will get underway "as soon as possible" after the local elections next week, Thursday 02 May.
New Political Talks Process Confirmed
Prime Minister Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have announced that new talks, aimed at restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland, will get underway "as soon as possible" after the local elections next week, Thursday 02 May.
09 July 2001
POLITICAL LEADERS BEGIN CRUNCH TALKS ON PEACE PROCESS
CRUNCH talks between the British and Irish Prime Ministers and the main political parties in Northern Ireland have taken place on Monday in Weston Park, Staffordshire against a media blackout.
POLITICAL LEADERS BEGIN CRUNCH TALKS ON PEACE PROCESS
CRUNCH talks between the British and Irish Prime Ministers and the main political parties in Northern Ireland have taken place on Monday in Weston Park, Staffordshire against a media blackout.
22 May 2018
Karen Bradley Urged To Restart Political Talks
Northern Ireland's Secretary of State Karen Bradley has been urged to restart political talks to restore devolution. MPs from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee made the call after parties failed to make an agreement earlier this year.
Karen Bradley Urged To Restart Political Talks
Northern Ireland's Secretary of State Karen Bradley has been urged to restart political talks to restore devolution. MPs from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee made the call after parties failed to make an agreement earlier this year.
18 December 2014
Cross-Party Talks To Resume
Cross-party talks are due to resume at Stormont today, it is understood. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland's main political parties held discussions until almost 10pm. However, not much progress is thought to have been made on key issues such as the budget or welfare reform as the parties failed to resolve their differences.
Cross-Party Talks To Resume
Cross-party talks are due to resume at Stormont today, it is understood. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland's main political parties held discussions until almost 10pm. However, not much progress is thought to have been made on key issues such as the budget or welfare reform as the parties failed to resolve their differences.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
