Speaking at the Edward M Kennedy Institute in Boston, Mike Nesbitt said: “It was not lost on anyone in the audience that American politicians are in no position to lecture others on how to get along. That said, there remains tremendous goodwill and a desire to see devolution working in Northern Ireland.

“There is also a clear appetite among the American business community to investigate the possibilities of investing in Northern Ireland. I applaud Steve Orr, the Chief Executive of Catalyst in Belfast, for doing such a great job selling Northern Ireland at the Conference. 

“If the last 25 years have been about building peace, the next quarter century must deliver the peace dividend we promised back in 1998. We need a prosperity agenda, and the United States and Economic Envoy Joe Kennedy III have an important role to play. I was glad to be a proud unionist voice in the room, arguing for a stronger economy.”