NI Conservatives’ co-chair, Trevor Ringland, has praised the Prime Minister for “backing Northern Ireland to the hilt”, after David Cameron gave a rousing speech to investors at the Investment NI Conference at Titanic Belfast.
“Like his colleagues in the NI Conservatives, David Cameron has huge belief in the potential of Northern Ireland and its people”, Trevor noted. “And no wonder, because all the evidence is here. This year we’ve seen Belfast stage a brilliant World Police and Fire Games, we’ve seen what Derry can do as the UK’s capital of culture and we’ve witnessed Fermanagh shine, as one of the most successful ever venues to hold a G8 summit. Look at our long history of outstanding achievement across industry, sport, entertainment and other areas. Indeed wouldn’t it be great to see this recognised by some sort of hall of fame and the Executive getting behind such a project.”
“The Investment Conference is a marvellous show-case for investors to come and see what our part of the world has to offer. We’ve got many benefits; hugely talented people, great schools, wonderful scenery and good links to the rest of the UK and the rest of Ireland. It’s now up to us to inculcate a new spirit of enterprise to capitalise on all these things.”
“That means competing with the rest of the world and concentrating on creating sustainable, private sector jobs. It also means building a ‘can do’ civil service, which delivers services quickly and efficiently. We already have hugely capable people with enormous talents in the public sector and it is absolutely possible to foster that ‘can do’ attitude more widely. ”
“Of course we’re also fortunate to have a Prime Minister who is passionately and personally committed to Northern Ireland. Working with two equally committed Secretaries of State, Theresa Villiers and Owen Paterson, he has ensured that the government has struck an economic deal to recognise our circumstances, put us in the position to attract investment by bringing the G8 to Enniskillen, lifted 66,000 people here out of tax altogether and provided hundreds of millions extra to spend on infrastructure.”
“The Prime Minister is also absolutely committed to offering people in Northern Ireland better politics, by standing candidates here under the NI Conservatives’ banner. With all of the attributes Northern Ireland has to offer, a great attitude to creating jobs and a better political landscape, we could certainly, as David Cameron says, ‘be at the heart of the UK’s recovery for years to come.”