The Rev Ian Paisley said yesterday the Irish Government has indicated its support for the campaign to reduce corporation tax in the North in line with the Republic's rate of 12.5 per cent.
Speaking to The Irish Timesat the announcement of a €11.5 million contract from Bus Éireann to a factory in his constituency, Dr Paisley said he expected Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to state his support for cutting tax in the North in a forthcoming speech.
"It will probably happen when he calls an election, because he'll want to say something about the North at election time because he's depending on getting a few votes for it, getting kudos for the work he's done," he said.
Dr Paisley said the British government may be having "second thoughts" about the economic package it has offered. "It's a terrible thing that the South of Ireland is giving more to us than they are, so we have that lever on them," he said.
More money from the Irish Government may also be announced soon, he added.
The spirit evident at Farmleigh on Wednesday was still very much alive when the Democratic Unionist Party leader and his son Ian Paisley jnr welcomed Minister for Transport Martin Cullen to Ballymena to announce the order of 48 new buses from the Wright Group.
The delegation to Ballymena from the Republic also included a number of prominent trade unionists who were instrumental in securing the deal.
A relaxed and jovial Dr Paisley said he was delighted with the contract for his constituency. "We need more of it because our economy is in a bad way because of direct rule," he said.
Mr Cullen was treated to the same manly backslap that Dr Paisley delivered to the Taoiseach on Wednesday.
"I was struck by Dr Paisley, his warmth and his friendliness," said the Minister.
"He gave me a big handshake and when he was finished speaking he gave a slap on the shoulder and said 'I'll give you one as well so'," Mr Cullen said.
The deal between Bus Éireann and Wrights pre-dates the current outbreak of bonhomie between Dr Paisley and his southern counterparts. It arose out of contact between the company's shop steward and Peter Bunting of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
"There was a fear that the order book was running sparse and concerns over continuity of employment for part-time workers. At least one of the assembly lines was in danger of closing down," Mr Bunting said.
Mr Bunting made contact with Mr Cullen. The Minister said he was impressed by the union delegation which came to meet him last January.
"I'd heard of the company but had no idea of the innovation going on here.
"It's a win-win situation and an example of the kind of thing we can do on this island together," Mr Cullen said.
The local shop steward Jim Wright (no relation to the owner) said he was proud of yesterday's announcement.