THE DEMOCRATIC Unionist Party and Sinn Féin were yesterday bluntly told to agree a deal on the devolution of policing and justice powers – or endanger hopes of US investment, by Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward.
The declaration came after Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness strongly criticised First Minister Peter Robinson for seeking to delay talks to settle a £600 million funding row.
Insisting that US investment hinges on “stability”, Mr Woodward said the US Northern Ireland economic envoy, Declan Kelly, “stands ready” to help bring jobs to Northern Ireland.
Speaking later, Mr Woodward stood by his comment, saying Americans are interested in investing in the North because of low costs and highly-skilled workers.
“But equally if you want to invest tens or hundreds of millions in Northern Ireland, you want to know that the politicians there are going to be stable. You want to know that devolution is there for the very, very long term and that’s why, of course, it’s essential that the politicians in Northern Ireland take on policing and justice powers. The demonstration that you can handle law and order, that you will accept that responsibility, sends the brightest signal possible that actually you’re there for business, you’re there to create jobs and you are there to serve the people of Northern Ireland.”
Former US president Bill Clinton last week hosted a meeting between Northern Ireland leaders, Mr Woodward, Minister for Foreign Affairs Michéal Martin and leading US business figures. “Never forget there are 42 million Irish-Americans who want to invest in the shared future of Northern Ireland. America wants to put its money where their hearts truly rest,” Mr Woodward told delegates to the British Labour party conference in Brighton.