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It is funny that the Member seems not to have taken on board the number of occasions on which it has been explained why there has been a delay with the aviation policy or the details of the work that my Department was required to do last year because of decisions taken by the British Government. He is also aware that…
According to the Minister's departmental business plan, she was meant to have produced an aviation strategy for Northern Ireland over a year ago. If the Minister spent less time blocking roads and breaking the law, would she be able to get on with doing her actual job as Minister for the Economy?
I thank the Member for her question. Members will be aware that the Derry to Dublin air service was a New Decade, New Approach commitment and that both Governments committed to supporting its development. Unfortunately, the British Government have doubled down on their position in refusing to exempt the route from air…
As the Minister is aware, the Derry to Dublin route is critical to promoting and supporting a thriving all-Ireland economy. Will she provide an update on the British Government's decision to apply air passenger duty (APD) to the Derry to Dublin route?
I thank the Member for his question. That issue is raised with me frequently and consistently, particularly when engaging in North America. It would be of huge benefit to have a route re-established. The airport leads on those discussions in the first instance, but my Department is happy to support the continuing…
I used that service quite frequently when Continental Airlines and United Airlines operated it, and there were never any empty seats in either direction. I am sure that the Minister would agree that the lack of a direct link is an important missing piece of the local economy jigsaw. Is the Minister hopeful that there…
Restoring a direct air service between Belfast and a major United States hub remains an important objective for my Department. The North continues to experience connectivity challenges arising from competition from other regions and from our geographic location and consequential reliance on air travel to access…
I thank the Member for that question. I encourage him to engage with Tourism NI on that, because planning is under way on how to maximise the benefit of the fleadh and ensure that offerings are available. Some of that happens organically, but, where councils can have input and want to be involved, we should encourage…
Building on the previous question, I ask the Minister whether there is an intention to draw together similar types of packages. For example, in Downpatrick, in my constituency, we have the home of St Patrick, which would be of great interest to those who visit for the fleadh. Will the Minister's Department undertake…
I thank the Member for her question. My Department and Tourism NI have a particular focus on that. While we want everyone to experience the fleadh in Belfast, there is so much on offer across our region, and we want to encourage people to stay a while and experience what else is on offer. We — Tourism NI in particular…
North Down is the home of the fleadh host branch Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann (CCÉ). We had an incredible fleadh fringe event alongside the pipe band championships. Minister, how are you engaging with councils and local businesses outside Belfast to bring the maximum economic benefit of next year's fleadh?
I thank the Member for his question. The fleadh showed the best of us. It was an inclusive and positive event that attracted hundreds of thousands of people to Belfast. Part of the reason for that was the involvement of people from across all of our communities. That is something to be welcomed and built on. Let us be…
Does the Minister agree that the generosity displayed by unionists during the fleadh in Belfast this summer stands in stark contrast to the lawbreakers of Sinn Féin, whose intolerance of unionist culture is damaging community relations in Portadown?
FlaggedSectarianism, hate crime and community relationsCriteria met: Identity framing, Sectarian or communal antagonism, Cultural grievance politics, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
I thank the Member for his question. Féile has certainly grown into one of the largest community arts and cultural festivals across these islands. It attracts audiences from across Ireland and beyond. Responsibility for evaluating the economic impact of the festival rests primarily with the organisers and funding…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Of course, as well as Fleadh Cheoil na nÉireann, we also had Féile, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors to dozens of events ranging from political debates, book launches and history tours to big concerts. Among the best concerts was that of Young Spencer from the Shankill, who…
I am delighted that the fleadh will return to Belfast in 2027, providing an important opportunity to attract new audiences and further enhance the tourism and economic benefits delivered to communities and businesses across the North. On 21 September, alongside Minister Kimmins and Belfast City Council Lord Mayor…
I thank the Member. We have performed really well in the creative industries, particularly the screen industries, and our colleges and universities have been key to our being able to do so. However, it is important that we continue to support the sectors and make sure that the skills provision meets the needs of the…
Our third-level institutions have an admirable focus on finding the next Allen McClay or Frank Pantridge. Does the Minister detect the same enthusiasm to unearth the next Liam Neeson or Seamus Heaney?
I thank the Member for her question. We would all like to have been able to agree a three-year Budget. It would have put us in a much stronger position from a strategic perspective for planning how we deliver across all our objectives, particularly our Programme for Government and Executive commitments. Unfortunately,…
In light of the further education colleges having to cut places and courses and the impact of that on sectors such as the arts, does the Minister regret supporting John O'Dowd's draft Budget earlier this year? Further to that, does the Minister agree that it is important to make clear to the groups that blame their…
I thank the Member for her question. The programme was launched, I think, in April. It is about strengthening the further education sector and doing exactly what the title says: making sure that it is fit for learners, communities and the broader economy in the future. Our colleges are a really important part of our…
I thank the Member for her question. Part of it potentially relates to our previous conversation about the contingency allocations that our further education colleges are working to this year in the absence of a Budget. Certainly, my hope is that we will have a better Budget settlement than that which was on the table…
Thank you, Minister. You will be aware that, a few weeks ago, a lot of arts sector representatives were at Stormont. Amongst their asks was that there would be the continued development of people in that sector. Your initial response outlined quite a number of areas in which people can get involved. Many others and I…
I recognise the important contribution that the arts and creative sectors make to our society, culture and economy and the significant role that is played by further education colleges in arts and creative education. Learners who attend our further education colleges can study traditional disciplines, such as fine…