Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said renewable energy has a vital role to play in the local economy.

Addressing around 70 business delegates at an awards luncheon for the Action Renewables Association, Mr McGuinness stressed that the Executive will do all in its power to support renewable generation through the current economic crises.

"Government is receiving the message that business here rightly views the transformation to low-carbon as an opportunity, and we will do all we can to foster a business environment in which that opportunity can be seized, through innovation and investment," he said.

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The Sinn Fein minister said the Executive was determined to support local business to capitalise on the opportunities inherent in the transition to a low carbon economy as a route out of the current difficult period.

"Companies and economies that respond positively to the challenge of transforming to the low-carbon model will be the ones who reap the benefits of the transformation."

Mr McGuinness spoke of the Executive commitment to build a more sustainable future.

"By incorporating sustainable development as a cross-cutting theme in our Programme for Government, the Executive is demonstrating its commitment to delivering a more sustainable future for all our people.

"This clearly and unambiguously moves sustainability in to the spotlight and makes us all focus on how we can best achieve the delivery of a sustainable future through our economic, social and environmental policies and programmes," added Mr McGuinness.

(PR/JM)