The violence in north Belfast is threatening the economy in Northern Ireland at a time when it can ill-afford to be at a disadvantage in competing to attract new investment and jobs, a minister warned today.
Northern Ireland enterprise, trade and investment minister Sir Reg Empey issued the warning as he reported an increase in the number of unemployed people in the North and a decrease in manufacturing output.
"As world markets become tighter and inward investment becomes more difficult to achieve, what we need least at present in Northern Ireland are the current images of unrest which are being transmitted across the world."
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Sir Reg Empey
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Sir Reg said he had anticipated for several months that unemployment would increase as the local economy was placed under increased pressure from global trends and events.
It meant business had to try harder to protect jobs and create employment, he said.
"Such efforts will be seriously damaged by the perpetrators of violence and threats in north Belfast. I would strongly urge all who have influence to work to prevent further unrest."
He revealed there had been a "modest increase" in the number of unemployed, but a small decrease in the numbers claiming benefit.
The number registered unemployed under the government's preferred International Labour Organisation definition was 48,000 - 6.3 per cent of the workforce - between September and November.
It was a rise of 2,000 on the previous quarter and 4,000 on the same time a year earlier.
However the number of people claiming the jobseekers' allowance was down 200 on the month to December at 38,100 - 4.8 per cent - and down 3,800 over the year.
The total number of people in employment in Northern Ireland went up 4,000 over the year to November to 711,000.
Manufacturing output fell in the third quarter for the second successive time. It was down 0.7 per cent on the quarter and 4.6 per cent on the year.
PA