An all-island economy offers the best future for the North of Ireland, the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will tell British business leaders

Senan Hogan:

In his keynote address to the Confederation of British Industry in London, Mr Ahern will also emphasise the productive Anglo-Irish partnership forged with British Prime Minister Tony Blair over the past decade.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and Conservative Party leader David Cameron are also keynote speakers at the two-day conference at the Business Design Centre in Islington, north London.

The Taoiseach’s spokesman said: “The Taoiseach will highlight the importance of relations between Britain and Ireland.

“In that context, he will underline the significance of the partnership that has developed between the two governments and their determination to achieve stability and peace in Northern Ireland.

“He will also address the question of the island economy and a future of cooperation in its development.”

Mr Ahern is to emphasise the key factors which continue to make Ireland a competitive economy for the IT, pharmaceuticals and other knowledge-based sectors.

“In addition to a competitive fiscal environment, a skilled labour force and a positive attitude towards enterprise, the Taoiseach will emphasise the importance of stability and confidence in facing up to change as a result of our social partnership process, and the increasing emphasis on our capacity in science and technology in support of research and development,” the spokesperson said. “He will highlight the growing significance of investment in R&D facilities here by blue chip companies across the globe.”

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