Business
leaders say UK should join the Euro, suggests a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland
Business Day Poll
A ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Northern Ireland specially commissioned Business Day poll suggests
that six out of ten Northern Ireland business leaders would support
the UK joining the Euro.
The
poll carried out by business advisors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
surveyed over 500 Northern Ireland CEOs and leading business executives
and included questions on business attitudes to the Euro.
Over
60% of the CEOs interviewed said the UK joining the Euro would be
beneficial for their business.
In
the West and North West of Northern Ireland, almost seven out of
ten CEOs supported the UK joining the Euro.
James
Kerr, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland Business Editor, said: "The
poll demonstrated business leaders' belief that the Euro would benefit
the Northern Ireland economy.
"The
Republic of Ireland is already a member of the Eurozone and is Northern
Ireland's single largest export market outside the UK.
"That,
combined with Northern Ireland's land border with the Republic,
may have persuaded business leaders that the Euro is right for business."
The
Euro questions were one of many included in the poll.
The
survey also polled business leaders on the effects of the suspension
of the Assembly on business confidence, the role of education in
the economy and the economic benefits of closer ties with the Republic.
The
results of the entire survey will feature in news and features throughout
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Business Day tomorrow - Thursday 7 November 2002 - on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern
Ireland television and radio.
The
highlight will be It's Your Business, a television special hosted
by Northern Ireland born ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Breakfast Business presenter Declan
Curry and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland news presenter Sarah Travers.
This
special debate will air on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland at 10.35pm live
from the Halifax Call Centre in Belfast and will feature the results
of a viewer Euro poll.
Viewers
can vote on whether the UK should join the Euro by calling after
5.00pm on Thursday on 08000 322262 to register their vote by phone,
07764 355 202 to text a vote or email businessdayni@bbc.co.uk.
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½
Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster, Talkback and Evening Extra;
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Foyle; ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Newsline and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News Online will all devote
some of their programming to business issues during the day.
Notes
to Editors
1.
PricewaterhouseCoopers undertook a telephone survey of 505 named
Chief Executive Officers/senior managers between 3 and 29 October.
2.
The survey took place both prior to, and after, the suspension of
the Northern Ireland Assembly.
3.
The sample of businesses selected to participate in the poll is
representative of Northern Ireland businesses employing 10 or more
employees.
4.
The sample is also representative of businesses employing 10 or
more employees and having their operational base in the East and
West of Northern Ireland.
5.
The question asked of Chief Executive Officers/senior managers was:
"Do you think the UK joining the Euro would be beneficial for
your business?"
Of
the 445 respondents who expressed an opinion, 269 (60.4 per cent)
answered, "Yes" and 176 (39.6 per cent) said, "No".
6.
The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.38 percentage points at
a 95 per cent confidence level.
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