The Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has welcomed Dan Lawton to Belfast as the new US Consul General in Northern Ireland.

Mr Nesbitt said:

“This was a timely opportunity to brief the new United States representative, given the ticking clock on the failure to implement the Stormont House Agreement is edging us ever closer to a budgetary crisis.

“Unionism has a pretty poor track record at engagement with American administrations, and it is a goal of my leadership to ensure the unionist voice no longer goes by default.

“This was an opportunity for me to remind the Consul of the Ulster Unionist Party’s pivotal role in bringing forward the peace and political processes and the need to refocus on the core aims of mutual respect for all our citizens, economic prosperity and good government. This week's murder on the streets of Belfast is the starkest of reminders that our journey is far from complete.

“It is clear there is a substantial number of blue chip investors ready to create thousands of new jobs in Northern Ireland but that this will not happen unless and until our biggest political parties demonstrate the ability to take tough decisions and stick to them. It is also clear that those potential inward investors do not have limitless patience and if we do not get on with it, the opportunity will pass us by.

“I also took the opportunity to outline the Troubles legacy of poor mental health and wellbeing which denies so many of our citizens opportunities in employment and education. Addressing this is another key commitment of the Stormont House Agreement and when others talk of their commitment to protecting the vulnerable, they should not lose sight of the vulnerable they are failing to protect by the failure to honour the commitments of the 23rd December last, made at Stormont House.”