The Ulster Unionist Party Leader Steve Aiken OBE MLA has warned the Finance Minister that Northern Ireland’s businesses need help now.
Speaking after the Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced a multi-million pound support package, Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:
“There is certainly much within the Finance Minister’s statement which should be welcomed, and there is no doubt that action is urgently required to implement measures that will provide some hope for our high streets and traders who have suffered greatly.
“It is certainly good to see that after eight months, some support is finally being provided for the excluded. However, given the glacially slow pace at which payments have been made to businesses that applied for assistance 5 weeks ago and more, people will understandably be forgiven for showing a keen interest in Minister’s plans to ensure this new funding is distributed as quickly as possible.
“The Finance and Economy departments have had many months to build schemes to help. It is critical that cash is released now to those in greatest need and to where it can do the most good. There can be no more excuses.”