She was speaking after a debate in the Assembly today on the cost of doing business.
Ms Forsythe said,
“This morning the Finance Minister was on the radio saying he was going to London today to meet the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the two key points he said he will be making were the increased level of funding need for Northern Ireland and funding for Casement Park.
The campaign for the increased level of funding need for Northern Ireland has been led by the DUP at Westminster by our Party Leader Gavin Robinson MP for some time and we welcome the Finance Minister taking this up.
It is disappointing that making the case for businesses in Northern Ireland isn’t on his priority list. None of those issues that are key to helping businesses matter. Instead his focus is on building a sports stadium.
The Deputy First Minister has stepped up and raised the pressures on local businesses directly with the Prime Minister. Whilst she was focused on the pressures local businesses face due to National Insurance and minimum wage increases the Finance Minister apparently doesn’t see these as priorities.
John O’Dowd should be aware of the Cost of Doing business report and it’s up to him to act. There are previous recommendations from the High Street Taskforce highlighting the need for action on rates reform sooner rather than later.
Businesses in Northern Ireland need to see action. The DUP is committed to making Northern Ireland work and successful local businesses are key to that.”