Anna Lo MLA said: “It would be nearly impossible for progress to be made on issues such as policing and justice if we don’t have a shared future strategy agreed urgently.
“We often hear of big ticket issues at Stormont. Well these are not just big ticket, they are matters that if left ignored will continue to be big bill for Northern Ireland issues.
“The bill for segregation hits the Stormont doormat every financial year and it is £1 billion annually. The bill for failing to produce a CSI document is also massive because think of the policing costs the cost to our economy of negative coverage of Northern Ireland in the media. Think of the whirlwind of bad publicity worldwide on the intimidation that forced Romanian families out of their Belfast homes.
“The Executive cannot afford to duck these issues any longer. We are in the teeth of a financial crisis and addressing the cash wasted on maintaining division is the best way to safeguard vital frontline health services in the future.
ENDS