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Mr Conor Murphy: Assembly records
All of Mr Conor Murphy’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
As I said, the co-design group has been working on that. As the Member will remember, one of the first initiatives that I took when I came into office was to up the funding to social enterprise and give it a higher profile in its contribution to the economy. We are developing an action plan; the social enterprise…
The independent report on community wealth building recommended a strategy for the sector. The action plan will tackle the strategic issues that face the sector. By taking a more flexible approach, there will be a quicker impact on the ground for the sector as it seeks to grow and expand sustainable social businesses…
I met the social enterprise co-design group recently to receive an update on its progress. The group’s initial focus is on strengthening the commercial base of social enterprises. Early recommendations include appointing champions in Invest NI, InterTradeIreland and local councils; building stronger leadership skills…
As I said, the Department invests about £30 million annually in apprenticeships: from level 2 apprentices who leave school at 16 to those who take up a higher level apprenticeship. Over 13,000 people are undertaking employment and learning through our apprenticeship programmes.
The latest figures show that approximately £73 million was raised by businesses here. The difficulty for us is that that is not ring-fenced; it comes as part of the block grant. I would gladly welcome £73 million coming into the Department to be put towards apprenticeships and skills, but that is a debate for the…
The apprenticeship levy was imposed by the British Government on both our public and private sectors. The Independent Fiscal Commission concluded that there is a strong case for devolving the levy, not least because it complements the Executive's responsibility for economic development and skills. I will consider the…
As I said, it will be a mixture of online courses, largely focused through the regional colleges. South West College and all the regional colleges will be engaged in this. We have an excellent network of campuses, right across the North, and that estate has been added to. I had an opportunity to go to Coleraine to the…
The plan for digital skills focuses on lifelong learning and access to that area, so it is about reskilling and upskilling. In addition, the £12 million that we set aside at the start of the summer for skills is focused on lifelong learning. That will be critical because, to have a fairly high level of employment, in…
We are engaging with that. Last week, I spoke at a conference on AI to make sure that it is part of our plan. There is a significant debate on the use of AI: some people see it as a threat; other people see it as an advantage. It is an effective tool that can be used in a beneficial way if it is used properly. We do…
The 'Digital Skills Action Plan 2024-2034' seeks to develop alternative pathways into the digital sector via upskilling and reskilling. The courses are delivered through the universities and subregional network of colleges with a focus on online provision. Enabling online delivery is particularly beneficial for people…
We are in dialogue. We set up a working group for the three tourism agencies — Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland — and both Departments to work through the issues. We are making progress. Some of the branding might be quicker than other bits, but, as the Member will be aware, there is…
The entire North will be covered in the marketing campaign for the tournament, because the visitors who come here do not come for just three or four days on the north coast. They will go across the region, and there will be a significant marketing effort to ensure that they come here, stay, enjoy it, spend money and,…
Up in Royal Portrush Golf Club, the Minister of Finance and I met the local chamber of commerce and got a briefing on the tournament, how it is being organised and all the spin-offs that, it is hoped, will be achieved from it. Of course, our agencies are fully engaged in ensuring that it is as beneficial as it can be,…
Tourism NI has a responsibility for the certification of a range of tourism properties, including potential overnight stay properties. Beyond those, there is a proliferation of things like Airbnbs and other places that offer more casual stays. I know that that is impacting, because it has been raised with me in…
I wrote to the Minister in the previous Government in Britain who was responsible for that and have consistently made clear my concerns about it. I concur with the sector and the industry's view that it will be potentially very damaging to us. I wrote to the Minister in the previous Administration in London, and,…
That is why some of the work is about engaging with supply chains. That boosts not only the businesses in the town but the local economy and prosperity, which will have a longer effect. If people who live in the area benefit from such tournaments by supplying to and working with them, that prosperity is reflected in…
Tourism NI, on behalf of my Department, is committed to working with key partners to deliver even more benefits from the Open in 2025 than were generated in 2019. The previous event brought more than £100 million of combined economic and media benefit for the North, delivering huge global broadcast reach and PR…
The Infrastructure Minister and all Ministers are aware in a general sense that we need to ensure that there is sufficient water and sewerage infrastructure to allow all the significant projects to which we are committed to go ahead. Department for Infrastructure officials will meet the task force in the near future,…
I am concerned about anything that impacts on something that benefits and grows the economy. The resolution of such concerns lies with DAERA or the Department for Infrastructure, and I advise the Member to take up those concerns with them. However, from an economic perspective, we want to see all our industries…
Yes. The two organisations are engaged at that strategic level to make sure that we understand where Invest NI's development priorities are and that Northern Ireland Water's capital programmes reflect that it understands the economic priorities. It is important that the two organisations talk. The Member will be aware…
Everyone in the Executive is conscious of the issue, and I have heard a number of Ministers say that it is the one allocation of capital that we all support. We recognise that we need the waste water infrastructure for all our plans. If we do not have the proper facilities to allow development, all the Executive's…
I have engaged with the Minister for Infrastructure. He is committed to working with Executive colleagues to ensure that an appropriate investment is made. I am acutely aware of the constraints that infrastructure imposes on our economic resilience and capacity for growth. The reality is that this is a symptom of the…
The Member is out of Downpatrick too long. He has forgotten his roots. Belfast will continue to be the economic driver for the region; there is no doubt about that. The priorities will be a matter for partnerships to decide. We will not impose an economic plan on an area. Too often, Departments headquartered in…
We have not been overly prescriptive on the make-up of local partnerships, because that is best worked out locally. Of course, that will include not just the university at Magee but other regional colleges across different council areas. As I said, we are not being prescriptive. The one prerequisite is that they are…
Today, I am announcing a new strategic approach to economic development. It is an approach that is locally led and places regional balance at its heart. The need for greater regional balance is clear. Employment rates range from a high of 79·5% in Mid and East Antrim to a low of 65·4% in Derry City and Strabane.…