by Richard Buckley, Editor, Business Eye

The Chair of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society has called for local political leaders to work together to find a way to address the democratic deficit at Stormont and to address issues which are affecting jobs, services and quality of life for people in Northern Ireland.   Speaking to over 300 guests at the Ulster Society’s Annual Dinner, sponsored by MCS Group and Danske Bank, Pamela McCreedy said: “My heartfelt appeal to all parties is to take a step back from the outstanding matters, agree a timeframe to revisit all that is left undone, and in the meantime get back to delivering on the issues which affect the quality of life of everyone in Northern Ireland – health, education, jobs and the economy.


 

“It is not impossible or unreasonable to seek out a third way – namely a return to the Assembly to give Northern Ireland greater stability, with an agreed timeframe to sort out the issues that are so far unresolved.

 

“The Belfast Agreement showed that politics could work and that compromise is possible.  Twenty years on, there is no question that we are in a better place than we were before the Agreement. We need to continue in that spirit of working together.

 

“It is now fourteen months since our political institutions collapsed. They have been missed. Some issues between the parties have proved too difficult to resolve, but I believe that there are more things that unite us than divide us. The parties must agree that addressing the challenges in health, education and the economy will require political leadership in a functioning Executive and Assembly.

 

“Direct Rule is no substitute for local political institutions making the decisions on health, education, jobs and our economy. We have to have an end to the stalemate to provide greater stability and to address the significant challenges which affect services and the quality of life of people in Northern Ireland.

 

“The year ahead will, without doubt, be one of the most important years for our economy and our future. This is a year where we must get it right. It’s a year where we can set out who we are and what we have to offer to the rest of the world.

 

“It’s a year in which we can rebuild confidence and show why Northern Ireland is a great place to live and a great place to do business. Our politicians, our business leaders and those running the public sector must be able to work together to make it happen.”

 

Also addressing guests at the Ulster Society Annual Dinner was Ulster, Ireland and Lions Rugby legend Willie John McBride MBE.

 

The Chartered Accountants Ulster Society’s Annual Dinner took place at the Culloden Hotel and was attended by over 300 members and their business guests.

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Willie John McBride, guest speaker, Zara Duffy, Head of Chartered Accountants Northern Ireland, Pamela McCreedy, Chair, Chartered Accountants Ulster, Louise Smyth of sponsors MCS Group and Simon Johnston, of sponsors Danske Bank.

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