Northern Ireland's economy must strengthen its ties to the Republic if it is to avoid slipping further behind, a former Stormont minister said today.
Mr Sean Farren, who served as Finance Minister and Employment and Learning Minister in the last Executive, told the SDLP's annual conference economic predictions showed the Republic would continue to outperform the North over the next five years.
"Over the next two years the south's economy is predicted to grow at more than five per cent and to remain one of the best performing economies in Europe.
"As a result investment continues to grow and is producing significant growth in employment with thousands of migrant workers attracted by the south's vibrant labour market and high quality job opportunities.
"Meanwhile Northern Ireland will experience growth of a more modest kind, at about three per cent.
"In contrast to the south much of this growth will supplied by the public rather than the private wealth creating sector. In the business sector, new investment is less likely to be from overseas and considerably more effort has to be spent attracting those likely to come than in the south."