Statement by TUV South Down Assembly candidate Henry Reilly:
“In the event of Brexit the £20 billion per annum, which presently goes into the bottomless pit of Brussels, will be available for the UK to spend on its own people. Northern Ireland must get its fair share.
“Under the Barnett consequential formula this could be about £500m pa. TUV will fight for Northern Ireland’s share of resources freed up by UK exit from the EU.
“Additionally, the liberating effect of again being able, as part of a major world economy, to make our own trade agreements across the world must be fully exploited with Northern Ireland helping to shape the new trade opportunities in collaboration with the Department of Trade in London. Likewise, freeing our businesses and farmers from the shackles of Brussels bureaucracy will present exciting opportunities for growth. In addition, there is great potential for our fishing industry, which Brussels regulations have done huge damage to, outside the EU.
“Any Stormont Programme for Government must prepare to exploit these opportunities.
“New thinking will be required outside the suffocating restraints of the EU. We must learn to think as a forward-looking, growth-seeking part of the fifth biggest economy in the world, instead of having our every move subject to the dead hand of Brussels control. Escape from the EU’s state aid rules will give London and Stormont the chance to shape and aid our growth to suit our needs.
“Then a local investment strategy and a matching funding infrastructure will have the chance to succeed and attract Foreign Direct Investment in a more business friendly setting.”