Increased North-Southery a denial of realities - Birnie
Ulster Unionist Spokesperson on Cross Border Issues, Esmond Birnie, has said that, while no one has anything to fear from cooperation for mutual benefit, SDLP shopping lists on North Southery and government’s apparent obsession with all-island economics are a denial of economic and political realities.
In a statement, the South Belfast MLA said: “Ulster Unionists are not against genuine cooperation if it is for mutual benefit. But what we are adamantly against is politicised North-Southery.
“The SDLP may produce shopping lists regarding expanded areas for cooperation, but this is always within the context of baseless assumptions, and cases unproven.
“This creeping cross-borderism seems to be another attempt to dilute the settled will of a clear majority to stay within the UK. In the absence of the Assembly, North South bodies should exist strictly on a care and maintenance basis. It is therefore regrettable that some are exploiting suspension of the legislative assembly for Northern Ireland as an opportunity to push their own narrow agendas.
“In economic terms, it’s more sensible to intensify links with Great Britain and its market of 60 million people, rather than the all-island one of just 5.5 million. The emphasis should be on East West, rather than North South.”
He added: “And when the NIO talks about marketing Northern Ireland as an all-island entity, dubious economics weakens our constitutional integrity.
“It would be better for all involved if government provided us with the fiscal tools necessary to compete with the Republic. That means creating attractive tax advantages, such as reductions in corporation tax and fuel duties.
“It’s phoney economics to emphasise joint inward investment when we have so many tax disadvantages relative to the Republic. The NIO and others would be better advised to stop repeated lapses into all-Ireland rhetoric and resist the temptation to run down the prospects of our own economy as ‘unsustainable’. Such an approach does no benefit for the people of Northern Ireland.”