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Gravis Planning's David Kerr sets out his Northern Ireland political update at IoD NI business breakfast

20 January 2025

For its first business breakfast event of 2025, the Institute of Directors (NI) invited Gravis Planning’s Group MD of Strategic Communications, David Kerr, to deliver an update on the current political landscape in Northern Ireland. David took part in the event alongside Investec's John Wyn-Evans, who gave a presentation on the latest market trends that are shaping financial markets globally.

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In his political overview, David spoke about events across the UK and Ireland in 2024 and then focused on the key priorities of the Stormont Executive, as set in in their Draft Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI). He addressed the strategic policy areas for the Departments for Economy and Infrastructure, and then concluded with his own thoughts on what he feels should be some of the key objectives for the Northern Ireland business community in 2025. Speaking afterwards, David explained:

“There are always a wide range of complex problems and challenges facing Government – so I firstly wanted to emphasise that it’s very important when we communicate with Ministers, that we put forward solutions and ideas, and work collaboratively with Departments."

“I firmly believe the key strategic objective must be to get corporation tax reduced from 25% in Northern Ireland to a level equivalent with the Republic of Ireland, i.e., 12.5%. This would completely transform investment and economic growth in Northern Ireland."

“We need to find a solution to the funding model for Northern Ireland Water that is acceptable to Minister John O’Dowd, to allow Northern Ireland Water to borrow money to finance the work needed to upgrade its systems, thus enabling new residential and commercial development that currently cannot happen. I also think Stormont needs to be imaginative around revenue raising and re-examine the devolution of the Crown Estate to Northern Ireland, following the example set by the Scottish Government, which has provided a new valuable revenue stream for re-investment in infrastructure and projects in Scotland.”

David added, “I have said for some time that the 1998 Belfast / Good Friday Agreement is a 50-year project, that will completely transform our society and our economy in Northern Ireland. We are past the halfway mark in that journey. Our GDP has doubled since 1998, our tourism industry has grown 6-fold in terms of revenue generated. Our renewable energy industry is one of the great success stories of devolution. There are so many opportunities in front of us. We need to find solutions to the problems caused by the post-Brexit arrangements. We need to collaboratively create the most economically advantageous conditions possible, to allow Northern Ireland’s private sector to achieve its full potential. I am very confident that our best years are ahead of us, but we need all leaders in business to proactively work with all political leaders in Northern Ireland to make it happen.”

To learn more, get in touch with us via info@gravisplanning.com.

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