Joe Kennedy says Stormont return key to major NI investment

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (top left) and Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill (top, middle) met delegates on Wednesday

Political stability and the return of Stormont are needed to attract major investors to Northern Ireland, US trade envoy Joe Kennedy III has said.

Mr Kennedy is leading a major trade delegation currently visiting Northern Ireland.

Speaking in Londonderry, the United States Special Envoy said big investment requires stable government.

"Of course it would be better if there were a government up and running," Mr Kennedy said.

He added: "If you are talking about making investments in the billions of dollars you need to have that political stability.

"We hope that we come to a point quickly that we can get that political stability, it's been a message we have heard a number of times from members of our delegation."

The US trade envoy Joe Kennedy (left) is meeting local business leaders and politicians including Alex Maskey (right)

On Wednesday night, party leaders met delegates during a dinner at Stormont.

Earlier this year, US President Joe Biden promised the delegation when he visited Northern Ireland.

He said "scores" of US firms wanted to come to Northern Ireland; some already employing over 30,000 people.

The delegation is a blend of US companies already present in Northern Ireland and potential investors.

Some new investment has been announced during the group's visit this week and on Tuesday, the New York State pension fund's comptroller, Tom DiNapoli, said it is to invest up to $50m (£41m) in Northern Ireland businesses.

'Sense of urgency'

Stormont has been without a functioning executive for 20 months as the DUP protests against post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland.

In recent weeks both the Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson have hinted at progress being made in talks about Stormont's return, however, the impasse continues.

Sir Jeffrey said on Thursday there was still a "distance to travel" before discussions with the government would conclude.

He said he was not embarrassed that the trade visit was happening without a government at Stormont.

"Every process of dialogue reaches a moment where you've taken the talking as far as you can and decisions are needed - I think there is still room to move, there is still a distance to travel to get the outcome we need but we are moving in the right direction.

"I can't predict if we will get the solution that we need but I will work night and day to get it."

On Wednesday, Mr Heaton-Harris repeated that he believed talks with the DUP are in the "final stages".

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Meanwhile the tanaiste (Irish deputy PM) and foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin said unionists had "missed an opportunity" to claim the Windsor Framework as a win.

The Windsor Framework, which was agreed by the EU and UK in February, is the revised post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

"The Windsor agreement was a major milestone. Actually unionism should have claimed victory. Much of what they campaigned for… the vast majority of that was delivered within it." Mr Martin told BBC News NI's The View.

Mr Martin also told the programme he has a good relationship with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris but he believes co-operation is not the same as in the Good Friday Agreement era.

Earlier on Thursday, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie said it is "absolutely embarrassing" that the major trade delegation is visiting Northern Ireland during Stormont's suspension.

Mr Beattie was speaking after a business breakfast involving MLAs and the US trade envoy.

Speaking after the business breakfast on Thursday, Mr Beattie said US businesses had raised the issue of political stability with him.

"They did ask when do we get to the stage of politicians being irrelevant? It is embarrassing that we don't have a government."

Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill said she felt there was a "sense of urgency" following this week's events.

"The mood music is positive but we need to build on that," she said.

Asked if there was more optimism or pessimism about the chances of Stormont, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said her optimism was changing on an "hourly basis".

Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood said "common sense should say this is the time to go back in", and that he was optimistic about the future.

You can watch Micheál Martin's interview in full on The View at 22:40 BST on BBC One Northern Ireland and iPlayer.