Debate contribution: Local Businesses: Financial Pressures

Debate contribution by Mr Mark Durkan on 1 December 2025.

MLA: Mr Mark Durkan
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 1 December 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Local Businesses: Financial Pressures
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5268907

Text

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a freagra.
Minister, this is an extremely challenging time for businesses. You outlined some of those challenges, another of which is the increase in the minimum wage, which your colleague welcomed earlier. That will put pressure on small businesses in particular and will, I fear, lead to more unemployment. I appreciate that some of those things are outside your gift, Minister, but are you committed to working with your colleagues to make things easier for the many businesses here that struggle? Numerous businesses closed last year, and it does not look good for many more going into the future.

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

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 2775/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.

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