Irish President addresses business leaders in Belfast

Irish President Mary McAleese has addressed an audience of over 300 business people in Belfast today.

Speaking as guest of honour at the Ulster Society of Chartered Accountants Business Lunch at the Europa Hotel, President McAleese outlined her long-term business hopes for Ireland, north and south, especially in creating "synergies between our respective indigent business sectors, to send fleets of consumer goods both ways across the border, to spread benign the embrace of jobs and prosperity widely as never before".

"But like all opportunities of a lifetime it has to be taken in the lifetime of the opportunity and that is why we need leaders, inspirers and empowerers at every level of society."

The President added: “The transition from a culture of conflict with all its wastefulness and woundedness to a culture of peace, prosperity and consensus is unfolding little by little. Precisely because the destination is so worthwhile the journey is so long, often difficult and undoubtedly testing.

"The surge of energy we set out with at the start of the journey is not easy to sustain at Good Friday levels. But one thing we can say with certainty is that we are closer to that destination than ever before in our shared histories.”

Stressing the importance of increased cross border trade and political stability in helping business and the wider community in both Northern Ireland and the Republic, Feargal McCormack, Chairman of the Ulster Society of Chartered Accountants, said: “It is encouraging to note that cross border trade on the island of Ireland has been growing at 9% per annum for the last ten years. However, if we are to play our part in an enlarged and highly competitive Europe, we must increase innovation and entrepreneurship, expand our supply chains, stimulate indigenous competitiveness and attract new foreign direct investment.

"In this context, the one factor that will make the greatest contribution to European competitiveness on the island of Ireland is political stability."

The business lunch was one of several engagements President McAleese attended in Belfast, including a visit the St Gerard’s Educational Resource Centre on Upper Springfield Road and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Centre on Stewartstown Road.

(MB)