DUP demands to cut funding for cross-Border projects is out of step with the needs of the business community, Sinn Féin said today.
The DUP dismissed what it branded ‘north-southery’ and said money was being wasted on inefficient all-Ireland projects.
But Sinn Fein’s Mitchel McLaughlin said the DUP was motivated by party politics and their claims were at odds with the opinions of business experts.
“It is obvious that the DUP are out of step with all other observers in its claim that North/South co-operation is not value for money,” said the Sinn Féin economic spokesman.
“Only a few weeks ago the Joint Business Committee (JBC) of the two organisations representing business North and South, IBEC and CBI, highlighted its belief that the strengthening of the single island economy is the best way forward for economic recovery.
“The statement by the JBC sends a very clear message to both administrations on this island that a focused approach on building an all-Ireland single economy is the best way forward for economic regeneration.”
The DUP’s Simon Hamilton had claimed that money invested in north-south projects could be better spent elsewhere and claimed the current all-island cooperation was no more than costly political window-dressing.
But Mr McLaughlin said the DUP was ignoring the views of the business community for political reasons. “The fact is that two competing economies on a small island will only serve to hamper efforts to revitalise the economy,” said Mr McLaughlin.
“Wasteful spending on duplication of services will lead to economic stagnation. Given the current global economic crisis to have two health services, two education services, two currencies and so forth on an island of less than six million people is not practical.
“Initiatives such as the all-island Single Electricity Market should be used as a model for collaboration in all areas of economic development. Sinn Féin is calling for more all-Ireland bodies and development of the all-Ireland economy,” he said.
PA