Pubs Of Ulster and the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association Joint Statement

30 January 2013

JOINT STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF PUBS OF ULSTER AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND INDEPENDENT RETAIL TRADE ASSOCIATION.

Following today’s announcement by Belfast City Council of a £400,000 funding boost to help businesses affected by the on-going flag protests, Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Pubs of Ulster and Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, said:

“Today’s announcement by Belfast City Council is another welcome boost for business in Belfast. We all know that the situation within the city is critical so we hope that that this money, combined with the £600,000 already committed by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster, will help those hit hardest in recent months by promoting what Belfast has to offer.

We hope that this then encourages people to come back to the city to make the most of our fantastic retail and hospitality offering. In turn, this will help protect the future of hundreds of local businesses and the livelihoods of those employed across Belfast.

“Pubs of Ulster and the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association will continue to work closely with Belfast City Council, as well as all of our political representatives, to ensure Belfast continues to get the support it needs. However, we need the people of Belfast to get behind our local businesses. We therefore call upon people to get Backin’ Belfast by getting back in our pubs, back in our restaurants and back in our shops.”