Northern Ireland business leaders urge a deal for a ‘fully funded’ StormontBy Rebecca Black, PAA host of Northern Ireland business leaders have written to political parties urging them to press forward to agree a resumption of a fully funded devolved government. The Northern Ireland Business Alliance described the coming days as “crucial” after multi-party talks around Stormont finances resumed at Hillsborough Castle. On Monday, the DUP indicated that a deal which would see them going back into Stormont was unlikely before Christmas. The business alliance – which includes the Centre for Competitiveness, CBI Northern Ireland, IoD Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry – has written to both the British Northern Ireland secretary of state and political party leaders, urging them to maintain momentum in talks over the coming days, “in order to reach agreement at pace”. “We welcome recent indications that the UK government has accepted the principle of a needs-based funding model for Northern Ireland,” they said.

Source: Irish Independent December 19, 2023 02:07 UTC