THE chair of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society has called for a renewed, determined and ambitious approach from local politicians after May’s Assembly elections.
Patrick Gallen, speaking to 400 guests at the Ulster Society’s annual dinner in the Culloden Hotel, said: “It's time for a new and challenging Programme for Government which invests in infrastructure, builds confidence and sweeps away the attitude that we can leave difficult issues for the next generation.
“It's now 18 years since the Good Friday Agreement and there is some frustration that devolution has become a slow and cumbersome process rather than a dynamic and responsive system of Government.
“We are eight weeks away from an Assembly Election. I appeal to politicians from all parties to take stock of this growing dissatisfaction and commit to doing business differently when the new Assembly and Executive meet. Obstacles and impediments to economic re-balancing and growth simply have to be tackled."
Mr Gallen added: “November’s Fresh Start Agreement was a potentially significant step towards securing the normalisation of our politics and society, but the Fresh Start is just that – a start. The overhang of legacy issues has made the Fresh Start a work in progress rather than the closing of a difficult chapter.
“We want politics to work. We will help in whatever way we can to make politics work. We can build a new Northern Ireland, and the Chartered Accountancy profession stands ready to invest time and energy in this most worthwhile venture."
He revealed that Chartered Accountants Ulster Society has engaged with members on the issue of the EU Referendum and will release details soon of a survey on the issue, as well as hosting a Brexit debate in Belfast.
Other speakers included Vernon Coaker MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and Eugene McCague, partner with Dublin law firm Arthur Cox.
