SEVEN organisations representing much of Northern Ireland's business and industry have called on all disputing sides to "persist" in their efforts to find a resolution to the issue of contentious parades, writes Gerry Moriarty.
The call came yesterday before further efforts today by the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, to find a way out of the parades impasse. Having met nationalist residents' groups last week, Dr Mowlam will meet the Apprentice Boys in Derry and Orange Order in Belfast.
The G7 grouping, representing bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of British Industry, yesterday warned that a third Drumcree would be extremely damaging to the North's economy. "Every section of the population, whatever their political or religious affiliation, will suffer the consequences of failure," G7 said in a statement.
"The world outside is astonished that a region like Northern Ireland, which needs more jobs, higher incomes and a better standard of living, is apparently so careless of its economic future and of the prospects for its young people and its unemployed."