A report from a group of economists has claimed that a lower rate of corporation tax is the only change which would quickly turn the Northern Ireland economy around.
The Northern Ireland Economic Reform Group argues that, without this, the North's economy faces a difficult future, and will continue to depend on a €9 billion a year subsidy from the British government.
'12 years after the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland remains the UK's poorest region,' the economists say. They claim that around half of all government spending in the North is financed by taxpayers in the UK.
The economists' report says the 'fast track' way to increasing prosperity and jobs is to attract foreign direct investment, and one of the main ways to do this is to offer a lower rate of corporation tax.
The report estimates that a corporation tax cut to roughly the same level as the Republic's 12.5% could lead to 90,000 extra jobs over 20 years.
