Press release

PM call with Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill: 27 September 2017

Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to the leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein about the Boeing Bombardier dispute.

A Prime Minister’s spokesperson said:

The Prime Minister spoke to leader of the Democratic Unionist Party Arlene Foster and leader of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill about the Boeing – Bombardier trade dispute.

In separate phone calls the Prime Minister said how today’s statement was very disappointing news and expressed concern about the implications this could have for jobs and livelihoods and the wider economy in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister said how she had personally raised this issue recently with President Trump, Prime Minister Trudeau and the Chief Executive of Bombardier.

On UK Government support, the Prime Minister said how ministers across Government – including Greg Clark and James Brokenshire – were continuing to engage intensively with Boeing, Bombardier, the Canadian Government, the US Administration and others on this important issue.

They also discussed how, while this was a preliminary judgment, it was an uncertain and worrying time for the workers and their families at the Bombardier facility and how the UK Government wanted to see a credible solution reached as quickly as possible.

The Prime Minister welcomed how both leaders had been working together to protect jobs and put Northern Ireland’s case forward on this issue.

Published 27 September 2017