LISTEN: Trade NI calling for urgent summit of business leaders and ministers

By Q Radio News

Trade NI has written to the Stormont executive to request an urgent summit of business leaders and ministers - to chart an agreed way forward on covid-19. 

The group is made up of Retail NI, Manufacturing NI and Hospitality Ulster. 

In a statement the chief executives of the three organisations - say businesses need a timeline for lifting remaining restrictions like in other parts of the UK. 

Stephen Kelly from Manufacturing NI says with the furlough scheme ending this week - clear and decisive action is needed: 

The Chief Executives of three groups, Colin Neill, Stephen Kelly and Glyn Roberts said:

“With Furlough ending we urgently need clear and decisive action from the NI Executive”

“At this critical juncture of the pandemic we need a clear consensus between the Executive and business for a timeline to the lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions”

“Our members are looking at the rest of UK and Ireland and asking why they are still having to live with restrictions and why no timeline to lift them is in place for Northern Ireland”

“Now is the time for strong leadership from our Executive and we look forward to a positive response to our request”

(Colin Neill, Stephen Kelly and Glyn Roberts)