Economic vindication of Sinn Féin's Peace Strategy

[factual]

Sinn Féin's peace strategy has brought significant economic gains to the people of the six counties, not least more jobs.

The growth in the private sector is very strong at the moment according to this report out today.

Sinn Féin aims for economic development, more jobs, and a more equal society in the six counties.

Furthermore, the reduced reliance of the six counties on the government sector, which relies on subsidies from London, is one of the prongs in Sinn Féin's peace strategy, as it reduces economic dependence on London which is an obstacle on the roadmap to Irish unity.

Here is the BBC's coverage:

Business growth is booming and employment is rising at a record rate, according to research from the Ulster Bank.

The bank found that business activity has gone up for 46 months in a row.

Ulster Bank chief economist Pat McArdle said NI had the highest UK regional employment and the second highest regional activity readings in January.

"Employment broke two records - a new survey high and the biggest monthly acceleration to boot," he said.

"It was driven by activity and new business, each of which hit two-and-a-half-year highs."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6353105.stm

[badinage]

Indeed, it turns out that blowing up businesses and trying to wreck the economy was bad for the economy! Who'd have thought it!

[Ponzi]

I'm afraid that much of the growth is dependent on a speculative property market bubble, its the kind of growth beloved of bankers and politicians but nothing to do with sustainable growth built on capacity building and rising productivity.

[factual]

I'm afraid that much of the growth is dependent on a speculative property market bubble, its the kind of growth beloved of bankers and politicians but nothing to do with sustainable growth built on capacity building and rising productivity.

If you read the report it says its broadly based across the private sector and much of it is manufacturing-driven (page 2).

[Limerick Lad]

Indeed, it turns out that blowing up businesses and trying to wreck the economy was bad for the economy! Who'd have thought it!

[Wolverine]

The bank found that business activity has gone up for 46 months in a row.

That's almost the same time that the assembly has been suspended. How can SF take any responsibility for an economic growth spurt that happened while they were out of office?

It's like Met Eireann claiming credit for fine weather.

The peace process has helped, and SF deserve a share of the credit for that, but no more than they are entitled to.

[rockofcashel]

The bank found that business activity has gone up for 46 months in a row.

That's almost the same time that the assembly has been suspended. How can SF take any responsibility for an economic growth spurt that happened while they were out of office?

Because it was our fault that the Assembly was suspened ...

[Cael]

The bank found that business activity has gone up for 46 months in a row.

That's almost the same time that the assembly has been suspended. How can SF take any responsibility for an economic growth spurt that happened while they were out of office?

Because it was our fault that the Assembly was suspened ...

No doubt then, the DUP, PUP, OUP, SDLP, WP, Alliance, etc. etc. not to mention the British government are equally responsible for this economic miracle

[factual]

No doubt then, the DUP, PUP, OUP, SDLP, WP, Alliance, etc. etc. not to mention the British government are equally responsible for this economic miracle

Not really, it was really Sinn Féin's hard work that brought about the context in which the peace process could get off the ground. Many if not most of those parties did their best to frustrate these efforts.

[El Matador]

How exactly is SF behind economic growth? So the economy has done better since they stopped bombing premises and shooting businessmen. Does that not kinda say that perhaps the reason why the economy was doing so crap was precisely because they were up to that carry on? It's hardly valid to claim credit for something when it was your own idiocy that was causing the problems in the first place