Employers and unions agree to extend North-South co-operation

Employers' organisations North and South as well as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) have agreed to extend their areas of co-operation, despite the logjam in the peace process. The IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council and the ICTU outlined four further areas of co-operation in a statement released yesterday.

Mr Nigel Smyth, director of the Northern Ireland CBI, warned that even in the absence of political movement the business agenda was proceeding. Detailed plans for structural funding need to be prepared within four months and if the executive was not up and running by then, decisions would be made by the current administration. According to Mr Geoff MacEnroe, director of trade and business development programme of the joint council, progress overall happens at a slower pace if it does not have the full support of the governments on both sides of the Border.

Mr Peter Cassells, general secretary of ICTU, as well as Mr John Kenna, chief executive of IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council, issued a joint statement calling on the governments and political parties to "redouble their efforts to find an accommodation which would allow the institutional arrangements to be put in place as soon as possible". The new areas of co-operation will include transport, health, education and the environment.