US ambassador says political stability key for Northern Ireland investment

Jane Hartley told Sunday Politics that a sitting government is important for firms looking at Northern Ireland

Political stability and a sitting government are important to encourage US investment in Northern Ireland, the US ambassador to the UK has said.

Jane Hartley said she would encourage DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to do what he can to return to Stormont.

The DUP walked out of the power-sharing government 18 months ago in protest at post-Brexit trade rules.

Sir Jeffrey told his party conference that power-sharing was "essential" for Northern Ireland's future in the UK.

Speaking to Sunday Politics, Ms Hartley congratulated him on a successful conference on Saturday but reiterated her view that it was important to get "Stormont up and running".

"It's important for us and mostly important for the people of Northern Ireland," she said.

"So we would encourage him to keep up his work and do anything he can to get to that point," she added.

'Companies like stability'

She said the US was not involved in ongoing negotiations around Brexit, the Windsor Framework or power-sharing in Northern Ireland, but said it was focused on "having a functioning government in Northern Ireland and that would be Stormont".

Ms Hartley added, however, said the political situation is a factor when she speaks to US companies about investing in Northern Ireland.

"Northern Ireland is an amazing community, so much human talent, great education system, so much potential," she said.

"But all companies, including American companies, like political stability so if you're talking to a CEO and encouraging them to look at Northern Ireland, which I always do, it would be important to have a sitting government."

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson addressing the party conference in Belfast

The ambassador will be coming back to Northern Ireland in a few weeks with the US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Joe Kennedy, along with 40 US companies to "showcase the immense talent" in the workforce.

"We strongly encourage a sitting government but we care deeply about Northern Ireland.

"Stability is important and having a government to work with is important - particularly in the long run," she said.

"I have met with Sir Jeffrey many times he is a wonderful man - so I encourage him to keep trying," she added.

Why are the DUP boycotting Northern Ireland government?

The party withdrew Paul Givan as first minister in February last year in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which triggered the collapse of power-sharing government.

Earlier this year, the UK and EU agreed changes to the protocol, as part of a deal known as the Windsor Framework.

It reduces the level of checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The DUP has since said the framework is not sufficiently different from the protocol and continues to undermine Northern Ireland's place in the UK.

It has been involved in talks with Number 10 for several months in a bid to reach an accommodation, with NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris recently saying he believes those negotiations are in their "final stages".

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