Julian Smith, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,
speaking today at Conservative Party Conference at The
Manchester Convention Centre, said:
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Conference
– it is a privilege and an honour to be here as NI secretary today …… and a
massive relief to no longer be the Government’s Chief Whip. Northern Ireland is
a unique part of the United Kingdom with
an important and difficult history that all of us are familiar with…
Since
being appointed Secretary of State 70 days ago, I’ve been travelling to every
corner of Northern Ireland meeting hundreds of people… And when talking to entrepreneurs, hospital
staff, youth groups and volunteers…
I
have been struck by people’s attitude… by their huge ambition and commitment
despite the absence of political
decision making from Stormont… …Whether at Musgrave Park Hospital or Ashfield
Boy’s School inBelfast or at Derry City
and Strabane District Council…
People
have not only been unfailingly challenging, engaged, and fair
to me as a new Secretary of State… but there is a real entrepreneurial
spirit, a desire for Northern Ireland
to grow and prosper.
Just
a few weeks ago, I saw this first hand
at an event organised by a new trade group…
This trade group was formed just a year ago by three business people …
Glyn Roberts, Stephen Kelly and Colin Neill … it
brought
350 businesses to Westminster… It was Northern Ireland’s largest ever
business delegation …To represent the region’s growing and
self-confident business community…to
convey a clear message — Northern Ireland is open for business.
This
message was heard very loudly yesterday when the energy company Infrastrata
announced its acquisition of the iconic
Belfast shipyard Harland and Wolff. Throughout
the Summer I’ve
been working with the unions, Gavin
Robinson
the DUP local MP, the administrators
and the workforce to save the yard from closure. Shipbuilding will now continue and thrive in Belfast thanks to a Conservative government. And this
Conservative Government is
supporting the ambition of all
people…
and
businesses across Northern Ireland — by investing in the nation’s growing
economy. …through the biggest day-to-day funding settlement for Northern
Ireland in a decade – 400M announced for NI in
the spending review
…This
morning I announced that the people and businesses of Mid-South
West Northern Ireland and Causeway Coast and Glens will benefit from £163 million of UK
Government funding … supporting economic growth, job creation and investment
in local projects.
This
means that every part of Northern Ireland now benefits from Growth Deal funding. Under this Conservative Government, Northern Ireland’s economy
is growing. Ambition is being encouraged and
entrepreneurial
spirit is thriving. We’ve seen unemployment fall to a record low of 2.8% and employment is at a near record high.
…And for this prosperity to continue, we must get Brexit done and deliver a stable devolved
Government.
I
am clear that the people of Northern Ireland, just like this Government, and
this Prime Minister want a deal. And I will be doing everything I can in my
role as Northern Ireland Secretary to
help the Prime Minister secure a deal
–
to protect the NI economy, the Good Friday Agreement and through that the hard-won
peace process. And in the context of Brexit, the challenge of restoring Stormont has become even more important…
…There
has been no devolved government
for over 1,000 days… …political decisions
impacting citizens lives left unmade
…Vital actions relating to health
and social services, education,
agriculture not taken.
We
now must urgently do all we can to collectively invoke the spirit and trust of those
who built the peace process… To
listen to young people who have an inspiring and amazing hope for the future…
In
spite of and because of the challenges they and their families have faced in the
past… …… They will benefit from new jobs created
in Northern Ireland as a result of this Government’s commitment to
attracting investment…
…From the increased university funding
committed in those new city and growth deals… And if Stormont was up and
running, even more could be achieved…. apprenticeships and skills academies
across the region…
…encouraging
wealth creation and new jobs for school-leavers and graduates… …delivering on
health and social services. The
Government stands ready to support a northern Irish political leader in all these
aims.
Because
above all…. it is vital for those young people that we deliver a prosperous
future for Northern Ireland. A future
that can only be delivered through the union and by getting a good economy and
security-protecting Brexit deal and getting Stormont back up
and
running.
And I’ll be spending the rest
of the coming weeks trying to do exactly that.
ENDS
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