Two former Irish-American congressman have called on Northern Ireland’s parties and the British and Irish governments to seek a compromise on the budget cuts that have led to political stalemate.
James Walsh and Bruce Morrison said in their letter that they believe a compromise can be reached to accept the current cuts envisioned by the Stormont Agreement coupled with a deal by the British government for a three-year moratorium on future welfare cuts.
"Northern Ireland should be in a much better place economically and socially in three years if the Stormont Agreement is broadly implemented," they said.
The region would benefit from “the resulting economic and political stability can produce increased inward and local investment in job-creating development.”
They said that this stability was "absolutely essential for the promotion of investment in Northern Ireland by American companies."
Their proposal would provide the basis “for a renewed effort by each of you to resolve the current impasse impeding the further implementation of the Stormont Agreement.”
The former congressmen sent their letter as the British and Irish governments, represented by Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan hold talks with the North's five main parties at Stormont House today.
The letter was sent to Ms Villiers, Mr Flanagan and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
The Northern Executive has failed to agree a budget for the rest of the year with the DUP, Ulster Unionists and the Alliance Party blaming Sinn Féin for rejecting the welfare cuts.
Mr Walsh and Mr Morrison noted in their letter that the burdens on Northern Ireland from the recession and decades of the Troubles “make the prospect of further welfare cuts a matter of great concern.”
They pointed to the high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder in Northern Ireland and suicide, referring to a statistic that suicide is 63 per cent higher in Northern Ireland than the rate in Britain.
"We are concerned that a 'one size fits all approach' to welfare reform for the United Kingdom negates this striking reality of Northern Ireland's recent past," they wrote.
Mr Walsh and Mr Morrison take an active interest in Irish affairs and have been strong supporters of the Northern Ireland Peace Process since their time in the US Congress.
Mr Morrison, a Democrat, served in the US House of Representatives for a Connecticut district from 1983 to 1991 and now works as a lobbyist and immigration lawyer. Mr Walsh, a Republican, was a US congressman from New York from 1989 to 2009.
Mr Walsh is a former chairman of the Congressional Friends of Ireland committee, while Mr Morrison is a former co-chair of the Ad Hoc Congressional Committee on Irish Affairs.
