Debate contribution: Cost of Doing Business
Debate contribution by Ms Diana Armstrong on .
- MLA
- Ms Diana Armstrong
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 2 June 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Opposition Business
- Heading
- Cost of Doing Business
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4981676
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I do not believe that any of us in the House can fully grasp the financial challenges that many local businesses currently face. They are navigating a constant state of uncertainty in costs, in global markets and in government policy. One thing that they can be certain of is this: spiralling costs that continue to rise. As a former business owner who once took a gamble without thinking twice about costs, I look at the challenges that entrepreneurs face today and ask myself, "Would I take that same gamble in today's climate?". We are, effectively, taxing businesses out of existence, so probably not. That is why I welcome the cost of doing business report. It presents a stark and sobering picture of reality. It brings to the forefront the serious challenges facing the business and manufacturing sectors in Northern Ireland and the real danger that many businesses may not survive, potentially plunging our economy into recession. We now have the facts. We now have a road map. What we need now is action. The Minister for the Economy must outline the support measures that she intends to pursue to sustain the Northern Ireland economy, particularly for small businesses in regions such as Fermanagh and South Tyrone, which I represent. It is not enough to present it solely as a UK Treasury issue. Yes, Westminster policies such as the increase in employers' National Insurance and the disparities in VAT rates hurt our businesses, but to simply shrug our shoulders and say, "It is someone else's problem" is to do a disservice to our local business community. Sectors such as hospitality, agri-food, high street services, haulage, retail, childcare and healthcare, which are largely made up of small businesses, face higher operating and employment costs, an outdated business rates system, the looming threat of additional regulation from the 'good jobs' Bill proposals and constraints on growth due to underinvestment in infrastructure and an inadequate planning system. A local business owner recently shared a telling example of our rates system, having opened a premises in one of Dublin's most prestigious streets, where the rates were just €9,000. The rates for a comparable premises in Belfast are €36,000. That disparity is totally unacceptable. It is a critical issue. The groundwork has been laid, so now the Minister must act. That is why I will support the motion as amended by Ms Forsythe's more comprehensive understanding of the issue. It is not just about the high street task force; it is about much more than that. If I could make one further request of the Minister for the Economy, it would be this: expedite the review of small business rate relief and the non-domestic vacant rating exclusion. Those reforms are essential to unlocking opportunity and growth in our town centres. We must support our industries, manufacturers, indigenous retailers, service providers, farmers, hauliers and all those who work tirelessly every day to keep our economy moving.
489 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: 0.03 (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 (0.96).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- 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 | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.96 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.95 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.04 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:47 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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