Tribal parties needed wake up from business leader call on devolution

10.50.26am GMT Fri 9th Feb 2007

Strangford Alliance Representative Kieran McCarthy

Strangford Alliance Representative Kieran McCarthy has welcomed comments from the head of the Institute of Directors calling on politicians to get the Assembly back up and running to help boost the local economy. At the Institute of Directors' annual dinner last night, Frank Bryan said that if devolution is not restored, local people's standard of living would decrease.

Ald Kieran McCarthy said: "I welcome Frank Bryan's comments as they give the tribal parties a much-needed wake up call on devolution.

"They illustrate the very real concerns of many people that failure this time will hit local people hard financially and will damage the local economy.

"We need genuine power sharing on a sustainable basis, as it will create stability and attract inward investment for Northern Ireland.

"We need power to be shared, not divided to boost the local economy and give local people the high standard of services they deserve.

"The only way that devolution can work is by all the parties working together, but at the moment that does not look possible, because the DUP won't even talk face to face with Sinn Fein."

ENDS