Robinson says credibility damaged

Peter Robinson said Sinn Féin were blocking the process

The first minister has said Northern Ireland's international credibility has been damaged by the refusal of Sinn Féin to hold an executive meeting.

"At a time when governments around the world are acting to deal with the financial crisis our executive is not even meeting," he said.

Peter Robinson, addressing a business dinner in east Belfast on Thursday, said it was a critical time for NI.

He said "uncertainty may cost us dearly".

The DUP leader said Northern Ireland needed to be seen as having put its political problems behind it.

"International investors will not wait around forever. In an ever increasingly competitive market we can simply not afford the present Sinn Féin obstruction of the executive."

The executive has not met since June.

The failure of Sinn Féin and the DUP to agree on the transferring of policing and justice powers from Westminster has been a key factor in the deadlock.