Doherty calls for an extra £250 million
Sinn Féin Vice President Pat Doherty, Chairperson of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee, welcomed Tuesday's CBI report calling for an extra £250 million to spent every year over the next decade on health, education transport and sewage in the Six Counties. He called for the Assembly to be goiven tax gathering powers and for Britain's war budget to be redeployed for reconstruction measures and for the development of the local economy.
``For some time now it has been evident that there is an urgent need to look at increasing our financial resources to enable us to develop a modern economy able to tackle decades of under-development, disadvantage and discrimination,'' said Doherty.
``We could also explore how the Irish government can increase expenditure on an all-Ireland basis. Specifically there may be savings on economy of scale in service provision in border areas and joint transport projects to improve all-Ireland infrastructure.
``The reality is that for many years the British Exchequer has failed us. Until we get greater economic control then there will always be substantial obstacles to our economic development and to the new and innovative ways to increasing the monies available for public expenditure and specifically for capital build programmes.''
Doherty has also this week welcomed the announcement by Mary O'Rourke and Reg Empey of studies with the ultimate aim of creating a single all-Ireland energy market.
``The commissioning of research on the energy situation north and south to identify convergence of the two energy markets with the ultimate aim of creating a single all-Ireland market is a welcome step,'' said Doherty. ``Sinn Féin is committed to promoting the obvious advantages of thinking about energy on an all-Ireland basis.
``Last November, a cross-party delegation from the committee met with Mary O'Rourke and Joe Jacob to discuss the whole issue of energy. From that perspective both this announcement and the actions of Reg Empey demonstrate that there are very positive discussions taking place on the practical and mutual benefits that can be delivered on an all Ireland basis.
``Perhaps what is most significant is that energy was not an area listed in the Good Friday Agreement for co-operation yet as Minister O'Rourke has noted, it has now become one of the most active areas as a result of joint initiatives. This underlines the huge scope for exploring further and deeper levels of all-Ireland economic activity.''
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