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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.
We are doing more in the area of further and higher education so that we can provide more childcare support in certain circumstances to people who wish to take up educational opportunities. We want to provide support for them in that arena. Of course, Invest NI is working with the Department of Education on that…
We just have to continue to improve on what we are doing in order to make sure that we understand those sectors' needs. That is why larger companies can come forward with programmes. We have done skills academies for many of them. They have been very successful in getting people a guaranteed interview and a high…
As I said in response to previous questions, we are very conscious of the skills challenge. From all sectors of our economy, from large to very small businesses, everybody mentions the same issue, which is getting people and skills. When you go abroad, you find that the biggest attractions for people who come to…
I am conscious of the fact that the economy does not change overnight. Low-paid jobs and low productivity have been stubbornly with us for many, many years, and that will not change overnight. However, my Department, in discussion with Invest NI and with many business organisations, large and small, wants to create…
We intend to do that by having a more strategic focus in a number of areas, which I have outlined from the start in terms of good jobs and productivity. We have had stubbornly low productivity here, which is inhibiting our businesses. We want to encourage more businesses into export, because those involved in export…
Yes. As I said, we had businesses from various sectors, of various sizes — small businesses and larger ones — and from across the region. Every one of them reported very positive and optimistic outcomes from their engagements. I had the opportunity to chat to them a number of times over the course of the week and they…
It was a very successful visit. We took 12 companies from across the North, from all sectors and of all sizes. Between them, over the course of the week, they had about 100 engagements. My team and the Invest NI team also met businesses. Some of those are considering investing here and some have already invested here,…
Yes, I expect the proposition to be reflected in the investment strategy. The investment strategy will be released soon, and we will certainly be making sure that the anticipated requirements for the Magee expansion, given that it is an Executive project as well as a commitment under a political agreement, will be met…
Anyone whom we have met in Derry has identified the expansion of Magee as the largest catalyst for economic growth. The area needs economic growth — there is absolutely no doubt about that — and the expansion of Magee is seen as the catalyst for delivering that. That is why I set up a task force. What was previously a…
As I said, there will be lessons to be learned from the report, and, if gaps are identified in how the Department calibrates its response to the skills challenge, we will certainly look at those. We have been examining this since I came into post, and we have been proactive on it. We have secured more money for it, we…
The Member will be aware that that was a report on performance a number of years back. After the Assembly came back, one of the first things that we did when we secured additional funding in the Department was put the entirety of that — £11·5 million — into skills. We hope to release a skills strategy in the coming…
We have moved to fund it at its level of need. It had not been funded to that level for some time, and we have already moved to do that. I anticipate that, as the level of business associated with the area in which it is working grows, there might be a requirement to re-examine that funding over the coming years. I am…
I attended the first meeting of the East-West Council, and there is no request for any resource. The body will be located in Whitehall and resourced from there. There is no request for resources from my Department, so no question around that arises. Of course, we want to see trade being as seamless as possible from…
The consequence of the additional funding that we put in has been to raise the headcount in InterTradeIreland from 47 to 65, and it is recruiting for those posts. It obviously covers the anticipated staff costs, and the request for staff is to meet the challenges. InterTradeIreland will be a key component in ensuring,…
InterTradeIreland's budget reflects its operating needs, in line with its annual business plan. For 2024, InterTradeIreland's budget is £15·4 million. The split is on a one third/two thirds basis between my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). My Department's contribution is £5·2…
I am not sure what that has to do with dual market access, but, nonetheless, the report was published last week. The matter may arise in further questions, but the interim report was published last week. It identifies challenges that need to be met in order to realise the ambition. I am sure we will get down to…
Yes. Access to both markets is the key to the dual market access benefit that will flow to us. We will ensure that companies have as few barriers to trade as possible, east-west, North/South and into Europe. Our manufacturing companies, like the wider economy, face challenges. There is historically high inflation in…
Yes, a number of companies have been saying that they have benefited specifically from that. From the existing data, it is difficult to measure the exact impact across manufacturing. There is no data available on specific companies that are selling to both Britain and the EU to identify exactly how companies are…
As the Member may know, I have just returned from North America, having been there all last week. It was a frequent topic of discussion. The Invest NI team out there has been presenting similar evidence of what dual market access looks like and will mean. There is an interest there in what it means for companies. I…
Maximising the opportunities associated with dual market access is key to growing our prosperity. Invest NI promotes the dual market access proposition through its network of overseas offices in Europe and beyond. It has developed a European programme that will showcase the North as an investment destination. The…
At the heart of the Bill is provision for a minimum threshold for protection of workers and workers' rights. That will apply to all workers whatever their sector. There has been engagement with trade unions representing a broad range of workers. If the Member feels that there is a gap in a particular sector, I can…
As I said, the consultation began, in effect, before the document was issued. This is the most substantial piece of employment legislation since the Good Friday Agreement. It is playing catch-up in a lot of areas, such as protection for workers, so there has been a lot of proactive engagement to make sure that we have…
We are certainly open to considering what is needed. The consultation is open-ended and without predetermination, so, if people feel that there are issues that the Department has not adequately addressed, on which legislation or strengthening of the process is needed, we are very happy to hear about them and, if…
I launched the consultation on the good jobs employment rights Bill on 1 July 2024. My officials and I have engaged with stakeholders before and during the consultation. I welcome the constructive engagement to date. The consultation covers four key aspects of a good job: terms of employment; pay and benefits; voice…