Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
Members may be aware that I have already put on record my analysis of my Department's budget, which is that it represents a quadruple challenge. Those are, first, to spend the money wisely on waiting lists; secondly, to mitigate the damage to other services from the Executive's decision to ring-fence £165 million of…
Minister, your statement states: "Ministers noted InterTradeIreland’s ongoing research work, which includes the recently launched report 'The Changing Nature of Trade on the island of Ireland'". I understand that the report is to focus on domestic trade developments, namely Brexit, the Northern Ireland protocol and…
Does the Minister agree that InterTradeIreland should be proud of its achievements since its formation, often outperforming its own expectations, and that that has been powerfully positive to see? Does the Minister also agree that extolling and building on the successes of bodies such as InterTradeIreland, which…
I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, you mentioned the vital work around supporting women entrepreneurs, including the eight pilot programmes that InterTradeIreland led in 2024. What is your assessment of that work, and when will it be evaluated?
I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, how were you assured about the accuracy and validity of the figures on the business value achieved in 2024, given that the most recently audited and published accounts were for 2022, with those for 2023 to be laid? Will you include detail on the report of £115 million…
I thank the Minister for her statement. The Minister said that InterTradeIreland has exceeded its targets. It is positive news that we have an economic body that is working and delivering for us. It is essential that we work together on opportunities across the island for the benefit of everyone. The Minister named a…
The Minister's statement rightly highlights the EY report that was published this year, which highlights the importance of the UK internal market to businesses in Northern Ireland. Does her Department understand the difference between an all-island economy and all-island trade? In that context, do she and her party…
My party is probably the strongest supporter of strand two in the Chamber; we championed the creation of the North/South Ministerial Council. However, I am afraid that you have given us an update on trade and business matters on the island of Ireland without mentioning dual market access and our unique proposition,…
I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in trade and business development sectoral format, which was held in Armagh on 16 April 2025. Minister Gordon Lyons MLA and I represented the Executive, and I chaired the meeting. The…
Minister, you rightly said that you need an evidence base on which to engage with the UK Government on VAT. You will also need an evidence base to stand, hopefully with the Irish Government, against the pernicious ETA, which is an existential risk to cross-border tourism. It was not mentioned in the statement, as has…
Minister, I am surprised to see nothing in the statement about the semiquincentennial of US independence. What is Tourism Ireland doing to promote the Chester Alan Arthur ancestral home in Cullybackey or that Dervock was home to the paternal ancestors of William McKinley, the 25th president of the USA?
I thank the Member for his question. I recognise the challenges that he has outlined. When I speak to businesses, they express similar concerns. As he will know, when I was Finance Minister, I initiated a cost of doing business research project, which I anticipate will be published in the near future. Part of the…
Thank you, Minister. Late last week, I met a group of local vintners, and I must declare an interest as the director of a hospitality company. Those vintners expressed deep concern about the challenges facing the sector in relation to increased costs around energy, increase in rates and wider challenges in trying to…
I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, you referred to Ministers granting consent to Tourism NI to amend the memorandum and articles of association. Can you outline why that was necessary and why a capacity review of Tourism Ireland is required?
I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, I noted in your statement the welcome commitment to address sustainability challenges. What actions are being taken to help our tourism sector become more sustainable?
I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, Tourism Ireland's remit is to: "increase tourism to the island of Ireland and to support Northern Ireland to realise its tourism potential." What is the Minister's assessment of the way forward for Northern Ireland realising its tourism potential in the Mourne…
Minister, I was going to ask you about Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. I am assured that, yes, that is being kept in development. Did the two areas — North and South — discuss the divergence in VAT at the North/South Ministerial Council meeting?
I share the Member's concern. It is something that I been active on since I came into post, as was my predecessor. The issue with the ETA is its potential to disincentivise tourism in the North, particularly among visitors who come to the South and want to travel north. It can also be seen as a potential barrier for…
The biggest single threat to ongoing tourism numbers coming north is the electronic travel authorisation (ETA), yet it has not been mentioned. The upcoming Open, to be held on the north coast, is an incredible opportunity; we are looking at having 280,000 visitors, a high percentage of whom will come through Dublin…
There is an action in the tourism vision and action plan, which the Member for Newry and Armagh mentioned, to incorporate regions of the North into the Fáilte Ireland regional branding. Significant progress has been made in bringing the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway coastal route together through an ongoing…