NI economy should grow in tandem with South, says Ahern

For too long the North and South of Ireland have operated back to back, virtually ignoring one another economically, the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told delegates at the 11th annual Northern Ireland economic conference which took place yesterday at the Hilton Hotel in Templepatrick.

Mr Ahern said that it was short-sighted and wrong for the two economies not to work in tandem and that the economic relationship on the island now required special attention.

"There is absolutely no reason in a stable political environment why the economy here should not be growing step by step with us in the South," he told delegates.

"And there is no reason why this island, working in harmony and with the right policies, cannot be a world beater. We can see nothing but gain from a successful Northern Ireland alongside us," he said.

In April, Mr Ahern, with British prime minister Tony Blair, met business leaders in the North who stated that they wanted to see Northern Ireland mirror the economic success story of the South.

"It was clear to us that business leaders in the North have the ideas, the energy and the ambition to do just that," he said. But Mr Ahern warned that replicating the economic success of the South required proactive and focused government. "We were able to take the necessary decisions to enable economic growth," he said.

"Northern Ireland needs an economic policy tailored to its needs and a locally accountable government to deliver it. I have watched the vigorous and well-informed debate on the economic future that would face an incoming executive. There is clearly a consensus on the challenges. And there is a large degree of consensus on the solutions," he said.

Both North and South faced the same challenges, according to Mr Ahern. These included greater competition for low-cost locations, developing the knowledge and skills of the workforce, promoting investment in research and building a world class infrastructure.

An all-island approach to these issues required new thinking and new ways of doing things, he added, and this can prove challenging for both North and South. Radical thinking may be required in terms of investment priorities.

"This Irish Government will not be found wanting in meeting these challenges and in taking these opportunities," he said.