After ten weeks of intensive cross-party talks at Stormont House, the Northern Ireland executive and the UK and Irish governments have agreed a set of actions to address the two key themes the talks were convened to address: to secure the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and to deal with the impact of continued paramilitary activity.
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A new dawn for Northern Ireland.[/caption]
‘A Fresh Start: the Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan’ builds on previous political agreements and brings closer the goal of a Northern Ireland where politics works, the economy grows and society is stronger.
On the Stormont House Agreement the agreed package will:
* Help give the Executive a stable and sustainable budget, including additional UK Government financial support of around £500 million to assist the Executive in tackling issues unique to Northern Ireland, including support for their programme to remove peace walls; * Pave the way of the devolution of corporation tax powers which is expected to lead to a reduction to 12.5 per cent by April 2018; * Allow measures to address the issues of flags and parades to go ahead; and * Introduce institutional changes to make devolution work better including on the size of the Assembly, the number of departments, use of the petition of concern and provision for an official opposition.
On paramilitary activity, the document strongly reaffirms support for the rule of law. Additional measures include:
* Fresh obligations on Northern Ireland’s elected representatives to work together on their shared objective of ridding society of all forms of paramilitary activity and groups; * A concerted and enhanced effort to combat organised and cross border crime, which the UK government will help to fund.
Despite some significant progress a final agreement on the establishment of new bodies to deal with the past was not reached. The Government continues to support these provisions of the Stormont House Agreement and to providing better outcomes for victims and survivors. We will now reflect with the other participants on how we can move forward and achieve broad consensus for legislation.
Agreement Provides a fresh start – Robinson and McGuinness
This is an agreement to consolidate the peace, secure stability, enable progress and offer hope.
That was the message from the First Minister Rt. Hon Peter D. Robinson MLA and the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA.
The agreement signals a resolve to defend core public services, to attract foreign direct investment, support indigenous businesses and to provide better jobs particularly for our young people.
First Minister Peter Robinson said: “After many months of discussion and many difficulties along the way we are publishing the agreement entitled ‘A Fresh Start – The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan.’
“At the heart of this agreement is a desire to build a better Northern Ireland for all our citizens. We set out further steps to develop our economy, support those most vulnerable, assist working people and build on the political progress to date. The decision to reduce our Corporation Tax rate from April 2018 to 12.5% will act as a game changer in our efforts to grow the Northern Ireland economy. The additional half billion financial package will allow us to protect front-line services ensuring we become efficient in how we deliver for the public.
“Today represents another milestone along the way as we normalise and build our society. The agreements and plans we set out represent our desire to overcome the difficulties of the last number of years. We must ensure through co-operation and common purpose the spirit, vision and promise of the document is fulfilled.”
The Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: “At the heart of this agreement is our common commitment to a better future. We have secured more than half a billion additional funding for the Executive plus flexibilities that can be invested in growth and public services. We have agreed a package of £585million to support the most vulnerable in society and low income working families.
“We also addressed directly the issue of paramilitarism. There can be no place for armed groups in our society. That is why the agreement includes additional resources for policing and mechanisms to challenge armed gangs and criminality.
“Our political institutions are the best way to ensure we can protect our people. This agreement offers a new beginning, a new way of working, a new era. The opportunity is there for everyone to work together and turn the vision of this agreement into a reality.”
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP said: “This is a good day for Northern Ireland and a fresh start for devolved government. This Agreement deals with the issues that have cast the greatest shadow over the future of the devolved institutions here.
“This Agreement means that Northern Ireland’s finances can be put back on a sustainable footing, ending the long-standing dispute over the budget. There will be a fresh emphasis on tackling paramilitarism and organised crime and clear declaration that such activity will never be tolerated. And there will be reforms of the Executive and Assembly to make devolution work better.
“Today’s agreement is another step towards the Government’s goal of building a brighter, more secure future for all the people of Northern Ireland.”
Background on the talks process, including a timeline of key events, can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/news/ni-talks-timeline-of-announcments
(NIIRTA) has welcomed the Fresh Start Stormont Agreement
The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “Political stability is the bottom line for sustainable economic development and so we welcome this agreement as a roadmap in moving forward both the institutions and our economy”
“We hope that it will have widest possible agreement across the political parties. It is not for us to comment on the politics of this agreement, but it is important for us to give our views on the economic aspects of it”
“At long last we have the date and rate for Corporation Tax of April 2018. It is crucial that this timetable is maintained.
“The scourge of paramilitarism continues to be a problem for our members and our economy and we welcome the proposed Joint Agency Task Force to tackle this vital issue.
“It is positive that a new Independent Fiscal Council for Northern Ireland will be established to provide objective assessments on the NI Executive future budgets.
“A commencement date for the A5 and progress on the North-West Gateway are welcome boosts for the infrastructure of our towns west of the Bann.”
Invest NI Welcomes Date and Rate for Corporation Tax
Commenting on the Northern Ireland Executive announcement that a reduced rate of Corporation Tax of 12.5 per cent, and a date of April 2018 have been confirmed, Alastair Hamilton, CEO Invest Northern Ireland said: “Northern Ireland is already the most successful region in the UK for Inward Investment, on a per capita basis, based on our ability to attract cost centre, service based projects. “A reduced rate of Corporation Tax will significantly add to the attractiveness of Northern Ireland as an investment location for existing and potential new investors and bring benefits to our local business base. It will open doors for us to be able to compete for, and seek to attract, new operations, which are tax sensitive.
“Securing inward investment projects often takes two to three years from initial engagement to confirmed letters of offer. Now that we have an agreed rate and date will be able to proactively begin engaging with potential new investors who may have profit centre opportunities. Today’s announcement will also provide a welcome boost to local, profitable businesses which will have additional finance to invest in their future growth.
“The addition of a reduced Corporation Tax to our investment proposition has the potential to make Northern Ireland the most attractive location in Western Europe for new FDI, based on a combination of tax, talent and value.”
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