ALLIANCE representative Seamus Close has said he warmly welcomes the announcement that the Government is likely to abandon the introduction of aggregates tax.
Mr Close first raised the issue by way of a question to OFMDFM in January 2000, when he queried national fiscal policies as they applied to Northern Ireland.
Mr Close stated: “I have said previously that our peripheral location leaves us in a disadvantaged position on this issue. The aggregates tax as proposed was not going to meet its environmental targets and would have led to the loss of jobs in the quarry industry.
“I am now delighted that the Government is taking my points raised at that time seriously. I hope that common sense will prevail.”