Write a commentNewry Chamber of Commerce & Trade headed up a recent delegation of local representatives to Stormont Castle to meet with the Permanent Secretaries of the Departments of Enviroment, Health, Social Development, Enterprise, Trade & Investment. This meeting of Northern Ireland’s top senior civil servants was hosted and facilitated by Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
The Newry delegation lobbied the Permanent Secretaries on key agenda items; including the need for a Regional Regeneration Office located in Newry, a Southern Relief Road, the threat of Out of Town retail developments, support for health care services in this Cross Border region and support for economic development opportunities in the South East of Northern Ireland.
President Cathal Austin stated, ‘Newry Chamber was delighted to be afforded the opportunity to meet with the Permanent Secretaries to press them on issues of importance to the people of South East of Northern Ireland. This was our second engagement with the Permanent Secretaries in the past six months and we look forward to meeting with their Departmental Officials to discuss in further depth areas of priority for the local business and civic community. These engagements are part of Newry Chamber’s ongoing lobbying campaign with key stakeholders including Ministers and Senior Officials to put the needs of the Greater Newry Area further up the political agenda’.
