Debate contribution: Regional Balance Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 8 September 2026.

MLA: Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 8 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Regional Balance Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5674367

Text

Thank you very much, and thank you for the kind words at the beginning of your address. I know that we are drifting into other areas, but I looked at the definition of "regions" in clause 7 of my Bill and clearly indicated that we are looking at the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and at indices around the local government districts. Those are the districts that we are looking at currently. Invest NI reports on those local government districts and has another measurement, the Belfast metropolitan area. I think that that is what the Member is referring to. Getting back to the Bill, however, that is not the interpretation that I am putting on that in terms of the statistics; I am looking at the local government districts.

131 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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