Mr Major’s Doorstep Interview in Belfast (II) – 14 December 1994

Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep interview held after leaving the BT offices in Laganside, Belfast, on 14th December 1994.

QUESTION:

[Inaudible].

PRIME MINISTER:

The prospects are very promising indeed. I don’t expect people to commit themselves to huge investment while here today or tomorrow, but I think the atmosphere last night, the evidence of interest this morning, the sheer quality of the people who are here will lead to investment. I’m pretty confident we’ll get some.

QUESTION:

How disappointed are you in Sinn Fein’s attitude to the conference?

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, I think it’s a shame because the purpose of the conference is to try and provide jobs for all the people in Northern Ireland, including those that Sinn Fein would say they represent. So I think it is very short-sighted of them.

QUESTION:

Do you think it has spoiled the conference in any way?

PRIME MINISTER:

No. Anyone who has been at the conference will know that it won’t. The atmosphere there is crackling. I have no doubt the conference is a success.

QUESTION:

Are you confident that the ceasefire will hold and Northern Ireland has a bright future ahead?

PRIME MINISTER:

Well I profoundly hope the ceasefire will hold and providing it does, providing they can carry the political process forward, and I’m very committed to that, then I think the prospects for Northern Ireland are very bright indeed. A Northern Ireland without violence hanging over it, as it has for the last 25 years, has everything that people would wish to see in terms of investment prospects. So, yes, I’m confident about its future.