The chairman of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in Northern Ireland, Mr Bill Tosh, has told a Sinn Fein delegation that IRA violence is inhibiting economic stability and progress.
Mr Tosh said the Sinn Fein delegation, led by the party chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, yesterday communicated the view that republicans were clearly interested in creating stability.
In turn the CBI informed Sinn Fein that there was a "credibility gap" between such a desire and IRA actions. Mr Tosh said bit was one of several meetings the CBI had had with Sinn Fein over the past 2 1/2 years. CBI members believed there was a need to reach out to all parties.