The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) has described the recent xa0riotingxa0in Belfast City Centrexa0as “disgraceful” and called for political leadership to resolve ongoing challenges around Parading and the Shared Future agenda.
NIIRTA Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:xa0“Thexa0rioting in Belfast City Centre was an utter disgrace, once again dragging the City into appallingly bad headlines and damaging its good reputation across the world”.
“City Centre Traders had been enjoying a much needed bouncexa0in trade from the World Police and Fire Games.xa0It was shameful that many traders had little choice but to close early”
“With many participants in the gamesxa0actually watching these riots,xa0what picture will they paint ofBelfastxa0when they return home?
“The challenges facing Parading and Shared Future can only be resolved politically in the Richard Haass talks and not through further violence on our streets”
“Northern Ireland will never achieve its economic potential as long as we have such a bitterly divided society”.
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