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I thank the Member for her question. The Invest NI business strategy for 2024-27 set ambitious and challenging targets. I am pleased to see that the organisation has increased investments outside the Belfast metropolitan area (BMA) from 56% to 59%. I look forward to Invest NI achieving its target of 65% of investments…
I very much welcome the work of the local economic partnerships, particularly in the north-west, in addressing regional imbalance. Minister, what is your assessment of Invest NI's contribution to regional balance?
I thank the Member for her question. Her point is well made. What we are trying to achieve with those local economic partnerships is for every area to have the opportunity to design its own economic priorities and to leverage support from my Department, Invest NI and other Departments to help achieve them. We are…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Much is said about regional balance for the north-west, but, in representing South Down, I am concerned that the south-east does not feature so highly on the agenda. I am keen to make sure that the money is drawn down and drawn down fast and that it hits the rural communities. Does…
Local economic partnerships represent a new approach to developing economic policy and promoting regional balance. Local areas will identify their own economic priorities, and partners will work together to deliver those priorities. Partnerships will be supported with a £45 million fund over three years. Funding will…
Businesses make decisions for many commercial reasons, and they will, of course, do that on where they choose to locate. My work across the Department and the Executive is to create the best possible environment for businesses to start up, grow and thrive. My focus continues to be on ensuring that there is adequate…
We have just met the all-party group on construction. It outlined the reality that a number of companies that were scheduled to set up business in the North have now relocated elsewhere, including to the Republic. A major company tried to set up business in Newry but relocated to the Republic because of a lack of…
I thank the Member for his question. I will work with and support companies in achieving all the objectives of my economic vision of creating good jobs, promoting regional balance, raising productivity and having decarbonisation. I am happy to work with companies to achieve that and, of course, to support them in…
The Minister rightly articulated the importance of the aerospace and defence sector to the Northern Ireland economy, which is already worth £2·2 billion. The strategic defence review, which I recently submitted a question for written answer to you about, has the opportunity to provide thousands of jobs and billions of…
As I mentioned to Diana, I have had significant engagement with the trade unions along with the First Minister and deputy First Minister and Invest NI. We have regularly met. I fully understand and appreciate the concerns that they express, and I have communicated those to Spirit AeroSystems, Airbus and the British…
The Minister has already detailed some of the engagement that she has had with trade unions. Will she also outline the engagement that she has had with employee representatives and any more detail on the engagement with trade unions and how that will be used in the ongoing negotiations?
I thank the Member for her question. I have engaged with trade union representatives on a number of occasions on the work that they continue to do across the board to get a good outcome, and I continue to support them in that. My officials and I will engage with the Member on that ongoing work.
Thank you for your response, Minister. You will be aware that Unite the union and the GMB union are doing a lot of background work to protect jobs. You mentioned that you are doing that too. You may also have noted that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking responses to its inquiry into Boeing's…
I have been in active discussions with the British Government to emphasise the strategic importance of Spirit's operations in the North. Less than a fortnight ago, I met the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonny Reynolds, in London, where I highlighted the need for a positive and sustainable outcome for the…
I thank the Member for that question. Let me be unequivocal about this: there is absolutely no place for the attacks on 5G masts. I have already stated that clearly in the House. Those who are at that need to desist, and anybody with information should contact the PSNI. I have mentioned the barrier busting task force…
There is a specific problem with attacks on masts. We have seen those in west Belfast recently and in some nationalist areas. It is important that there is leadership in relation to the attacks that have happened, because mobile infrastructure is vital for people's connectivity. I want to ask about the barrier busting…
I thank the Member for her question. As an MLA for a rural area and someone who lives in a rural area, I recognise the issue. I struggle regularly for good coverage. I also recognise that good connectivity is essential for people, and I am aware that some areas are much better served than others. I am due to meet…
Thank you for that answer, Minister. As you know, the majority of my constituency is rural. Therefore, given the vital importance of a reliable phone signal for safety, connectivity and daily life in rural areas, do you agree that mobile phone providers have a moral obligation to ensure that no rural communities are…
I thank the Member. O2 has advised that the majority of its voice and data traffic is carried on its 4G and 5G networks. While O2 is stopping roaming on its 2G network, it has no plans to switch it off and has provided an assurance that it will remain in full use for O2 customers. O2's 3G services will be switched off…
Our minority ethnic and migrant communities bring many benefits to our economy and our society. From an economic and business perspective, we want to be globally competitive, and that simply cannot be achieved in some sectors without migrant workers. From accessing international knowledge to expanding into new markets…
Minister, I know that, like me, you will be acutely aware of how much many of our local producers rely on immigration to survive. Will you comment on the many benefits that we see from immigration into the North?
As I said in my opening answer, we need to see strong and clear leadership to say that what happened is wrong and sends a bad message about not only Ballymena but the North as a whole. We also need to see that civic leadership coming through. The idea of support for businesses is not the most appropriate vehicle at…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Ballymena in North Antrim has been in the press for all the wrong reasons due to the violence. Given that footfall is down, some eateries cannot now get chefs and workers have had to flee and go home, what specific support can the Minister give businesses in Ballymena that have…
I thank the Member for his question. The recent racist violence in North Antrim was disgraceful and unacceptable, and there is no excuse for it. Businesses affected by criminal damage may be eligible to claim under the criminal damage compensation scheme run by the Department of Justice. In order to prevent a repeat…
Deputy Speaker, I have spoken to you about your dad before, but, as it is the first time that you have been in the Chair when I have been in the Chamber, I also pass on my sympathies. I agree with what has been said. I speak in support of the Bill and welcome its Second Stage. As Alliance Party spokesperson on the…