McGuinness, Ahern Talk Economics

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McGuinness, Ahern Talk Economics

July 26, 2007

By Paddy Clancy

NORTHERN Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said that he and First Minister Ian Paisley are working very constructively together and there is “no going back” for either of them.

The Sinn Fein chief negotiator said he and Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, were both working towards achieving a 12.5% corporation tax in line with the rate in the Republic, and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern was fully supportive of their bid.

McGuinness was speaking after his first meeting with Ahern in Dublin on Monday since the restoration of the Executive in the North.

Much of the hour-long meeting was taken up with discussion of McGuinness and Paisley’s plan to persuade Westminster to cut the corporation tax. Ahern had indicated he was fully in favor of “a level playing field” for both parts of Ireland, although he acknowledged that so far as the rate in the North was concerned the British government had ultimate responsibility.

“There is no doubt that in the taoiseach we have a friend in court. Ian Paisley has alluded to that several times since May 8,” said McGuinness.

He added that the development of the economy in the North and delivering greater prosperity was the “next big battle” facing the Executive.

He said, “There is a narrow window of opportunity there. Between now and the summer of next year, we will be trying to bring plenty of economic investment, plenty of well-paid jobs to Northern Ireland.

“Ian Paisley and myself have labored the need for a level playing pitch and I think the taoiseach has publicly been very supportive of us in doing that. Obviously, we are still doing quite a bit of brainstorming as to how this can be accomplished. I’m very encouraged by what I heard from the taoiseach.

“I think we can all work together, the Irish government, the British government and whatever support we get from the EU and U.S. administrations, to deal with all these issues in a way which will see us take the best advantage from what is a limited window of opportunity.”

Ahern and McGuinness also discussed the future development of the peace process, north/south cooperation and the devolution of responsibility for policing and criminal justice matters to the Executive. Major projects, such as road and canal links, were also on the agenda.

A statement on behalf of Ahern after the meeting said progress at the British-Irish Council and the North-South Ministerial Council had been reviewed and he and McGuinness had looked forward to future meetings of both institutions.

Last week the Irish government confirmed its $540 million contribution towards infrastructure in the North. Part of the money will go towards an upgraded route linking Dublin direct to Donegal via the North.

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