Business Reps Demand Return To Restored Stormont

The Northern Ireland business community has united to express its deep concern at the continued absence of a functioning administration.

Now is the time for strong and effective leadership as the region prepares for Brexit. That was the message of 21 business groups as they pled with political leaders to double their efforts to reach agreement.

Signed by representatives from construction, hospitality, manufacturing, trade, tourism and retail, the business chiefs demanded a fresh attitude to the Stormont talks process to facilitate a return to power-sharing. They said Northern Ireland's people need a united front to represent them in the Brexit process and deliver on the domestic agenda.

It comes as the current round of negotiations continue between the five main political parties, two and a half years since the DUP and Sinn Fein split in a bitter row. Today, Wednesday 31 July, saw party leaders gather at Stormont to meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Secretary of State Julian Smith to provide an update on the latest phase of talks.

The call from business leaders said: "We need a fully functioning administration to agree and deliver a Programme for Government that will build infrastructure, reform our health service and education system, ensure we have a strong economy and create opportunities for our young people. We also need effective representation in the Brexit discussions, even at this late stage in the process, to ensure that the economy is protected through whatever changes arise and that all necessary mitigations are sought and secured.

"The business community will give encouragement and support to those politicians who stretch themselves to reach a compromise. Without such a commitment and associated action from our elected representatives, we risk irreparable damage to our economy and our society for which future generations will judge us harshly."

A full list of signatories to the agreement can be viewed here.