Northern Ireland leadership essential - says PwC

With the economic forecast looking bleak, political leadership is vital to secure a sound economic future.

That was the sombre message delivered by PwC’s chief economist, Philip McDonagh, at the 13^th annual Northern Ireland Economic Conference, in Holywood’s Culloden Hotel.

Opened by deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and attended by leading figures from the public, private and voluntary sectors, the conference heard PwC warn that a combination of rising food and energy prices and the global credit crunch had created the conditions for a ‘perfect storm’ that would change the economic landscape of Northern Ireland.

Responding to the deputy First Minister’s call for business leaders and politicians to hold their nerve and act responsibly in the face of global financial turmoil, Philip McDonagh said that the economic forecasts and targets contained in the Executive’s Programme for Government, were looking increasingly challenging. 

Instead of attempting to close the productivity gap with the rest of the UK using strategies inherited from Direct Rule ministers, he proposed a new Northern Ireland National Development Plan to harness the resources and expertise of the public, private and voluntary sectors towards economic recovery.

Contact details
Email: Philip McDonagh
Tel: +44 (0)28 9041 5767