Debate contribution: Job Creation and Cross-border Cooperation in the North-west
Debate contribution by Mr Pádraig Delargy on .
- MLA
- Mr Pádraig Delargy
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 4 March 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Opposition Business
- Heading
- Job Creation and Cross-border Cooperation in the North-west
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4833032
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
As a party with representatives in both Derry and Donegal, Sinn Féin is acutely aware of the long-standing obstacles that the north-west has faced. The north-west is rich in opportunity. To realise its potential fully, however, we need strategic, coordinated and ambitious action.
The development of a Derry-Letterkenny economic corridor has the power to transform not just the north-west but the entire island, creating high-quality jobs, developing world-class infrastructure and delivering prosperity for workers, families and businesses.
I want to outline our commitment to key strategic projects in the north-west. In January this year, Conor Murphy allocated £5·15 million to Derry City and Strabane District Council, the largest funding of any region. Sinn Féin has played a key role in the expansion of the Magee campus, securing land for development. Just last week Caoimhe Archibald announced the acquisition of Timber Quay, Queen's Quay and the council car park. Together, that will allow us to get to 10,000 students and more. Sinn Féin has consistently advocated, through word and action, balanced economic development of City of Derry Airport. The Department for the Economy is now a key partner in developing our connectivity, which lifts a significant financial burden off ratepayers in Derry. That agreement has allowed for the growth of our airport, with over 130 flights now leaving City of Derry Airport each month. On another aspect of connectivity, Sinn Féin has led the campaign and ministerial commitment on the vital upgrade of the A5, connecting the north-west with the rest of Ireland. We are also advocating enhanced support for businesses that wish to operate on both sides of the border, ensuring that workers and entrepreneurs can fully avail themselves of the opportunities presented by dual market access. In local development, the £290 million Derry and Strabane region city deal will deliver infrastructure and economic growth. Meanwhile, continued investment in the Ebrington site has led to the establishment of a maritime museum and EY's regional headquarters being situated there, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. We are fully committed to an all-Ireland approach. We work in tandem with our Oireachtas team to deliver investment and growth across Ireland. Sinn Féin representatives in the Dáil have been pressing for increased funding for all-Ireland infrastructure and to ensure that the Irish Government prioritise investment in the north-west through the Shared Island Fund, particularly in the development of Magee. The idea that investing in the north-west benefits only people in the north-west is fundamentally flawed. We know the old adage: a rising tide lifts all boats. A stronger economy in Derry and Donegal will benefit people right across Ireland. It is not only relevant to us all; it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to make it happen. Ultimately, while we can work collectively to deliver change in the here and now, we know that the biggest change that the north-west needs is Irish unity. Ní bhainfidh geilleagar an Iarthuaiscirt barr a mhaitheasa amach fad is a bheidh Éire roinnte.
Sinn Féin is committed to working on an all-Ireland basis to deliver for the north-west. That means working in the Assembly and in councils, and it also means working in Dublin. Let us seize this opportunity to work together to build prosperity for the people of the north-west and for our entire island.
561 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.09 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.79).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.95).
- Subject area: Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.10 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.03 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.04 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.79 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.09 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.95 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.05 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.86 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.09 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.05 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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