Finance
Minister, Simon Hamilton, stepped in for Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster,
who was busy conducting departmental business overseas during today’s Question
Time. Trevor Lunn MLA enquired about the prospect of securing direct air
routes to large EU trading partners such as Brussells, Berlin and Vienna after
the announcement of new routes to Iceland and Lithuania. Mr Hamilton assured
that the “ETI Minister is committed to improving Northern Ireland's air
connectivity” and “has already met the new managing director of Belfast
International Airport and has also met a number of airlines to explore
opportunities for improving our air access position”. However, it’s not possible
to discuss and future plans as “discussions about specific routes and airlines
are of a commercially sensitive and confidential nature”.
Mr Hamilton
also discussed the Enterprise Minister’s meeting with representatives of Down
District Council to discuss new public and private sector employment
opportunities across Down district. He assured that “the Minister and her
officials are doing all they can to promote new job opportunities in the area.”
In the last financial year Invest Northern Ireland offered almost £2.2m in
funding to companies in the Down District Council area – an investment that
will go to promoting 255 new jobs in the area.
During the
topical question period, the Minister also answered Members’ queries regarding
cancer drug research, DETI plans for economic recovery, electricity generating
capacity and steps to address underemployment.
