CBI responds to NI Executive COVID lockdown announcement

The Northern Ireland Executive has published a plan for the easing of lockdown restrictions here. Restrictions will be eased in five stages and progression will depend on key health criteria being met, Arlene Foster said.

CBI has welcomed the decision and has said that putting people’s health first and taking a flexible approach to the easing of lockdown measures is the only way to restart the NI economy.

“Getting Northern Ireland back to work in a way that prioritises safety will minimise the impact on livelihoods from this pandemic. It must be done gradually, based on science, to retain public confidence. Moving too far, too fast could set back the economic restart,” Angela McGowan, CBI Northern Ireland Director, said:

“Only by employers, employees and unions working together with the Executive will we begin to build back better, setting out a vision for the future of our economy based on fairness and sustainability.

“And it remains in everyone’s interests for economic experts to continue to work North-South and East-West if we are to have the best chance of protecting public health and restoring people’s prosperity.”