The US Special Economic Envoy to the North says now is the time to ‘harvest what has been sown’.

Declan Kelly is addressing the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Cavan.

He says the political leaders have made all the right decisions, but the work must continue.

Mr. Kelly says huge opportunities can now be seized.

“The future is now” he said.

“Why do I believe this? Because it has an economy with supreme advantages – a highly educated, skilled and English-speaking workforce, superb telecommunications infrastructures, close proximity to Europe and the United States, the lowest  operating costs environment in Europe”.

“So to use a sporting analogy, I believe we’re in injury time and we have an opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net” he added.

Mr. Kelly’s comments come as the investigation continues into a car bomb attack in Newry.

The device detonated outside the courthouse in Newry in County Down at around 10.30pm.

A number of warnings had been received in advance.

No-one was injured in the explosion, which took place as police were still trying to evacuate buildings.

The deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist party, Danny Kennedy, said these attacks need to be dealt with swiftly.

“There are significant issues now raised by attacks of this nature” he said.

“We’ve had a number of them against the security installations – particularly in the border areas”.

“I think there has to be a security response, as well as a political response” he added.