Question Time: Enterprise, Trade and Investment Monday 11 November 2013
During Topical
Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene
Foster, Alex Maskey took the opportunity to express his concern at the
potential impact on Christmas trading in Belfast City Centre from flag
protests and to ask what steps the Minister might take to minimise the
possible problems. Ms Foster agreed that “we have to recognise protests of any
nature in the city centre will have an impact on trade” and that there needs to
be dialogue between protestors and traders to find a way around any
difficulties. She is keen “to see Belfast reach its potential over the winter
months” and her door is open to provide any kind of assistance that she can.
When
questioned by Mickey Brady on the recent Ulster
Bank and InterTradeIreland
reports on the economy, the Minister welcomed the findings highlighting that
they show we “are stabilising the economy here and are moving into growth
mode”. Employment is expanding at its fastest rate in six years and after many
lean years it looks as though the recent problems experienced across most
sectors have “bottomed out” and are now seeing the signs of recovery and
growth.
After
providing an update on the joint
ministerial task force on banking and access to finance, Gordon Dunne asked
the Minister about her views on the Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) proposed
review into Ulster Bank. Ms Foster welcomed RBS’s decision to
keep Ulster Bank in its group citing her belief that this clarification
will have positive implications for the local property market and for the job
security of those who might have been adversely affected. The review provides
an “important opportunity to help shape the Ulster Bank” which remains a big
player and “is a strategically important part of growing the Northern Ireland
economy”.
Chris
Hazzard asked the Minister what her department would be doing to assist
Northern Ireland’s only aquarium, Exploris, and help prevent its impending closure.
Ms Foster stressed that for Exploris to remain viable it would have to look at
avenues for improving its commerciality in the long term. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Invest NI are available to assist Ards Borough Council (the
Council that currently funds Exploris and has made the decision on its
closure) in this respect and if commercially viable proposals are brought
forward she will remain as “positive” as she can be.
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