Ford – The Executive needs to rise to the challenge Obama laid down

Alliance Leader David Ford MLA has welcomed President Barack Obama’s comments on the need to go further to integrate our community, and says the Executive needs to rise to the challenge laid down to them. President Obama was speaking at the Waterfront Hall ahead of the G8 summit in Fermanagh.

David Ford MLA said: “President Obama recognised the progress made in Northern Ireland, but he made clear that we still have a long way to go.

“If we want to create a community that the young people in the Waterfront Hall this morning will want to be part of, we must rise to the challenge that he laid down.

“As President Obama made clear, that will mean integrated education, shared neighbourhoods and working with communities to bring down interfaces.

“To have President Obama visit Belfast and speak was positive, but it will only be worthwhile if we take heed of what he said.”

ENDS