North of Ireland Being Devastated By Redundancies, Covid-19 & Brexit
Aontú Cllr for Derry Emmet Doyle has called for the Northern Executive and the Irish government to get their acts together, and begin to economically support the North as it is being devastated by Covid-19, Brexit & Redundancies.
Cllr Emmet Doyle:
“The North has seen 10,000 redundancies since March, with employment now at 3.9% - 1.6% higher than this time last year. This is without even getting into the hundreds of businesses that have closed their doors for good this year, or the reduced money being spent in small businesses, or the hit people are taking in their pockets. Across the board, the North is being hit, and being hit hard. Notwithstanding the economic downturn the North is bearing, the North has also been continuously hit extra hard by the Coronavirus and continuous lockdowns which have further hampered our already vulnerable economy. The management of the virus has been far weaker by the parties northern executive than in the south. All of this comes, with a disastrous Boris Johnson-caused ‘No Deal Brexit’ on the horizon in little over two weeks’ time.”
“Our farmers, our border communities, our health service, our workers and businesses are all suffering. Our pubs and SMEs. Jobs, investment and opportunities are being lost in the North – with worse to come. I am calling for the Northern Executive to end its absentee leadership and begin economically supporting the North in our hour of need. I am also calling on the Irish government to put their money where their mouth is and help protect the Irish people of the North from economic downturn, Covid-19 and Brexit. Now is not the time for inaction and clapping hands, now is the time for economic support for the working people of the North of Ireland.”
