Business and policymakers need to work closely together to help weather the challenges Northern Ireland faces in the absence of an Executive.
That was the message from one of the province’s largest business organisations in reaction to news the Secretary of State has set a budget given the lack of functioning leadership at Stormont.
Speaking in the Houses of Commons, Chris Heaton-Harris, said he had been forced to set the budget in order to bring public finances in Northern Ireland under control and to give government departments an idea of their future spending power for 2023/2024.
The Executive was dissolved earlier this year when the DUP walked out of the institution in reaction to its concerns over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Ministers remained in place until October when Westminster’s deadline to restore the Executive passed.
Mr Heaton-Harris said local politicians should reform the Executive if they didn’t like his budget, one which protects health spending but will see a significant cut to education.
“I will continue to work towards the restoration of an Executive but I recognise that consideration needs to be given to a sustainable and strategic budget outlook for 2023/24,” he said. “If the Executive has been restored in time for a budget for 2023/4, the UK Government will continue to work constructively with Executive Ministers, including on a sustainable budget that works for the people of Northern Ireland and supports economic growth.
Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the Secretary of State’s move is the “cumulative impact of no agree budget, couple with the prolonged absence of strategic decision making on difficult issues by a functioning Executive.
“Until we finally address the fiscal challenges in health, education and infrastructure, it is simply the case that citizens will continue to suffer from sub-optimal services and there will be fewer resources year-on-year to focus on economic growth and job creation,” she said. “The times ahead will be challenging, but with a deeper partnership between business and policymakers we can innovate, drive efficiencies and find sustainable solutions to our fiscal problems.”
Speaking at the organisation’s annual dinner last night, Gillian McAuley, NI Chamber’s president, said the potential for Northern Ireland is huge, having come so far since the Good Friday Agreement which is about to celebrate its 25 year anniversary.
“Things in Northern Ireland were starting to change for the better. Northern Ireland was becoming a different place, a welcoming place, an inspiring place. And it is even more so now,” she said. “It’s amazing to reflect on how far we’ve come in this time. This truly is a place where big ideas are thriving, ideas that didn’t exist 25 years ago.
“There is much to be proud of. We have a global reputation for innovation. We’re making our mark in cyber security, in new technologies, in health and diagnostics, in food security and much more.
“We have come such a long way in that time. If we continue to support and develop more big ideas imagine what Northern Ireland might look like in the next 25 years.”
