Alliance Calls For End Of NI's 'Political Dysfunction'

The Alliance Party has called for an urgent end to NI's "political dysfunction" to allow for key sectors across the local economy to take advantage of investment opportunities.

The party's Economy spokesperson and Lagan Valley MLA, Sorcha Eastwood, made the call as a major trade delegation is scheduled to arrive in Northern Ireland alongside US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.

Ms Eastwood is urging the need to look beyond a reliance on foreign direct investment, instead encouraging locally grown business to focus more on export opportunities.

Ms Eastwood said: "Whilst it is fantastic to see yet more significant interest in Northern Ireland, it's a shame it's occurring against the backdrop of even more political dysfunction. Northern Ireland has so much potential and clearly there is interest from further afield in doing business here, yet some are determined to hold us back.

"To fully avail of all the economic opportunities we have in front of us, we must look at achieving long-term political stability through reform of the institutions, to put an end to stop-start government here and ensure Stormont can never again be collapsed by one single party for any reason.

"Many sectors across Northern Ireland are ripe for expansion and growth and we have to ensure we show potential investors the impact our local traders can have on external markets, leveraging our unique dual market access."