COMMITTEE ON THE PREPARATION FOR GOVERNMENT

COMMITTEE ADDRESSES ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

The Committee on the Preparation for Government has called on the Government to implement a number of measures to boost the economy in Northern Ireland.
In July the Committee set up a sub-group to look specifically at economic issues and to consider in detail the economic challenges facing Northern Ireland.
The Committee’s report addresses a range of key economic issues and challenges. Key recommendations include -

• The need for responsibility for economic development to be centralised within a single department or agency;
• That the planning process should be reviewed, adequately resourced and effectively managed to reduce delays and establish an appropriate balance against the needs of the economy;
• The need to rebalance the economy by developing a stronger private sector.

Francie Molloy and Jim Wells, chairpersons of the Committee, said ‘We call on the Government to give serious and urgent consideration to the measures set out in the Committee’s report. Addressing these challenges is a key factor in moving the economy of Northern Ireland forward and in allowing us to compete on not only a regional, all-Island or UK-wide basis, but in the global market.’

Notes to the Editor:

The report has been printed as the First Report on the Economic Challenges facing Northern Ireland. It will be debated by the Assembly at a plenary meeting on 11 September 2006. The report is embargoed until the commencement of the debate in the Assembly. If you would like to have a copy of the report please contact the Assembly’s Information Office on 028 90 521137.
A record of the Committee’s discussions can be found on the Assembly website

archive.niassembly.gov.uk/theassembly

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Committee on the Preparation for Government

Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 2006 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, wrote to Mrs Eileen Bell, Speaker of the Assembly, on 26 May 2006 to direct that a Committee should be established to consider issues relating to the preparation for Government. On 12 June 2006, the Secretary of State directed that the Committee should be chaired by the deputy presiding officers, Mr Jim Wells and Mr Francie Molloy.

Information about the report can be obtained from the Clerk to the Committee

Ms Nuala Dunwoody
Clerk Assistant
Clerk to the Committee on the Preparation for Government
Parliament Buildings
Belfast
028 90 418321

or

Alan Patterson
Principal Clerk
Clerk to the sub-group on the Economic Challenges facing Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings
Belfast
028 90 521785