November 2008 

INDUSTRY APPLAUDS EXECUTIVES ACTION PLAN

The representative body of one of Northern Irelands key essential industries has applauded the Stormont Executives action plan and sense of urgency to address the economic downturn facing the Province.

The Quarry Products Association NI ( QPANI ) that represents companies employing 5000 people and an annual turnover of £750 million supplying the Construction Industry have, over the past months, been lobbying MLAs and Ministers highlighting the severe impact the downturn has had on its members. QPANI Regional Director, Gordon Best, said “The quarry products sector has lost over 800 jobs so far this year and end of year estimates show this could rise to 1500, almost 30% of the workforce. We were one of the organisations calling for action by the Executive and the Assembly and now that an action plan has been put together and a sense of urgency established it is only right that we show our support and role in behind the Executive and do all that we can to manage and clear a pathway to economic recovery”.

QPANI welcome the Executives commitment to devise a major province wide plan to tackle the credit crunch, the easing of PPS 14 Planning restrictions, looking at ways to expedite the capital expenditure programme and delaying the Assembly Christmas break to address the economic situation. Mr Best added,” We will be bringing other recommendations to the Executive and Departments, some of which we have presented, as part of the wider Construction Industry Group, to a number of Assembly Committees in recent weeks. These include reducing regulation costs through the Better Regulation Programme, reducing costs for things that do not add value to companies, addressing the differential in energy costs faced by NI companies and assistance for business in managing their way through these difficult times”.

Mr Best concluded , “There are difficult times ahead and difficult decisions to make and things may get worse before they get better. We have been encouraged by the way the Assembly Committee Members have listened to the information we have presented and our recommendations on what can be done to alleviate the economic downturn, not just on Construction, but also the wider Community”.   I am sure that I speak for all QPANI members and my colleagues in the Construction Industry Group by saying that we are prepared to support the Executive and Assembly in managing our way through this and do our bit in building confidence”.

For further information please contact Gordon Best, Regional Director, Quarry Products Association, Nutts Corner Business Park, Crumlin BT29 4SR Tel 02890824078 Fax 028 90825103 email info@qpani  mobile 07876 136929