Northern Ireland Assembly
Tuesday 9 October 2001 (continued)
Mr S Wilson:
I started by agreeing with Mr Dallat, but he went rapidly downhill after the first few paragraphs. Although almost every party noted John Kelly's description of the debate as "surreal", many of us find it surreal that IRA/Sinn Féin Members should speak about a strong economy and protecting jobs when they spent 30 years waging economic warfare. It is a pity that Mr Kelly did not stay to hear the remarks of the SDLP, Sean Neeson and Esmond Birnie. He probably expected such comments from me, but they also came from unexpected sources.
It is important that the Assembly voices concerns about the present economic position, but we must realise that we from a small part of the global economy. In creating some jobs, we are especially dependent on big, global companies. However, there are limits to what an individual politician or a collection of politicians in a regional Assembly can do. We should not raise unrealistic expectations of the Minister's or of the Assembly's capabilities.
We must recognise that, despite the great strides that Northern Ireland's economy has made, there are still many structural weaknesses. We rely too heavily on the public sector and not enough on the private sector. More people here are employed in low-productivity sectors of the economy than in any other United Kingdom region. Our gross added value in manufacturing is still the lowest of any region or sector of the UK economy. Those structural weaknesses make it difficult to tackle some of the problems caused by the present global situation. If we are to compete, we must make our economy attractive to investment.
'Strategy 2010' identified the ponderous planning process as one of the constraints on our economy. That process has held people back from spending money in our economy. That situation has not improved; it has got worse. The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is in the House, but other Ministers should also address the problems that we face in attracting inward investment. It takes two and a half years, on average, for a major industrial or retail project to get planning permission. That is a major disincentive to investment and, thus, to the creation of jobs.
I listened to what Jane Morrice and other Members said about small-scale industry. There are Members who - almost every week - call for the placing of more and more bureaucratic burdens on small industry. Last week, Dr Esmond Birnie rightly raised the issue of the human rights legislation that Members on the other side of the House so enthusiastically embraced. The impact of some of the Human Rights Commission's recommendations, especially the social and economic rights, would place an immense burden on small firms.
We already have that burden imposed through much of the equality legislation. One of the biggest changes that we should make, if we want to remove some of the pressure from small businesses, is to make the Equality Commission liable for the costs of failed cases. At present, many small firms find themselves having to settle out of court because they cannot afford to win a case if they must bear all the legal costs. We must address those problems.
'Strategy 2010' included a recommendation that the Assembly should introduce a rates regime that would help to nurture small, indigenous retail businesses. What has the Assembly done? It has voted, every year, for a rates system that puts a greater financial burden on small businesses. That must be addressed. It is not only a question for the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, it is a question for several Ministers. Those are small moves, but they can help.
Mr Savage:
It is essential that the Assembly and its Ministers continue in office as long as they can in order to protect the interests of Northern Ireland industry. Only by having such well-informed local input will businesses here be adequately protected in the increasingly uncertain world economy. Recession was a possibility before the World Trade Centre disaster; it is now a betting certainty. In such a recession, job losses are part of our daily experience. My Colleagues spoke about the uncertainty in the textiles and manufacturing industries. That uncertainty affects many of my constituents, especially those in Lurgan, Portadown and Banbridge. The situation has arisen because of problems over which they have no control.
Northern Ireland needs the care of local Ministers. With the best will in the world, a return to direct rule would be a return to a less focused approach, which would put Northern Ireland low on the list of national priorities. In contrast, local Ministers who are accountable to the Assembly have a greater sense of duty, a greater sense of urgency, a greater sense of responsibility and a greater need to do something to protect local business.
If I may say it as his Colleague, we could not have a better Minister than Sir Reg Empey, whose recent achievement in obtaining the North/South gas pipeline cannot be praised too highly.
The people who are losing their jobs are the constituents of local Ministers or Assembly Members. Those Ministers are accountable to their constituents. The importance of having Northern Ireland Ministers was forcibly brought home to me last week when Sir Reg Empey told us that 70,000 people in Northern Ireland are employed by firms from outside Northern Ireland. That is a lot of people. Make no mistake, those jobs will be most at risk in a world recession. Without local Ministers working in a business-friendly climate that attracts inward investment, I fear for many of those jobs. In order that the public are left in no doubt, it is critical that the Assembly sends out the loud and clear message that the survival of the Assembly and its Ministers is vital to protect present jobs and to attract more jobs to the Province.
It is vital for all of us to behave responsibly because only the survival of the institutions will provide people with the maximum possible security for their jobs and futures. I am amazed at the behaviour of Members. There were two important debates today - this debate on the economy and this morning's debate on agriculture. However, only a handful of Members thought it worthwhile to take part. Those are two of the most important debates to take place on the future of our community. Jobs are jobs, and while people have jobs they are content and make a sizeable contribution to the well-being of all. I hope that the party opposite will get its act together and fulfil its obligations.
Following the establishment of economic and monetary union and the single market, the economic integration of Europe is almost complete. It is now necessary to draw up clear proposals for a political union. We face the task of designing a political union that may consist of 27 or more member states. A clear allocation of powers, tasks and responsibilities between the various levels of Government and Europe is essential. For reasons of political transparency and economic efficiency, that allocation of power should comply with the principles of transparency, proximity and subsidiarity. Citizens must know who is responsible for what. We must know who is responsible for our country's well-being. Our people need to know what is happening. We need to know what is in the minds of people, and where we want to go. The European Union currently has 15 member states and is in accession negotiations with 12 other states. All of those are our competitors. We must compete, and it is better to compete with those communities than to compete against them. I support the motion.
Mr Byrne:
I support the motion and the sentiments expressed about what has happened to our economy since the events in America. Consumer demand has been severely affected and we have entered a period of recession. The old economic factor of external-shock syndrome has become apparent to us as a result of the collapse of the World Trade Centre on 11 September. Business confidence has been hit, inward investment has suddenly dried up and uncertainty prevails. Many manufacturing businesses that were already vulnerable because of exchange rate difficulties, high energy costs, high fuel duties and general business uncertainty now face difficulties, or downsizing at least.
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Economic development agencies must therefore be sensitive and prudent in their handling of the situation. I pay tribute to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey, for reacting so quickly to the difficulties experienced by the aerospace industries, in particular Bombardier Shorts and B/E Aerospace in Kilkeel. Many American firms in Northern Ireland and the Republic are offshoot or peripheral plants, which are always vulnerable when demand for their products declines. However, firms such as Bombardier Shorts and DuPont have a long, well-established track record in Northern Ireland.
Technology businesses - and dot.com businesses in particular - have experienced difficulties in international trading for at least 18 months. Nortel's position here is an example of the general international difficulty in the IT sector, which is causing job losses such as those experienced in Newtownabbey.
Northern Ireland has a good track record in manufacturing, engineering and technology-based companies. We have a powerful range of good companies such as Bombardier Shorts, FG Wilson, Powerscreen International, the Finlay group, SDC Trailers Ltd, Hyster (Northern Ireland) Ltd, and R Wright & Son (Coachworks) Ltd in Ballymena. Those are all good examples of resilient and robust manufacturing companies. Many of them are also good examples of local companies that started out as small or medium-sized enterprises. Norbrook Laboratories in Newry and Galen (Pharmaceuticals) in Craigavon are excellent manufacturing examples in the pharmaceutical sector. They are high-value-added businesses whose strong export records successfully contributed to good foreign exchange receipts. All those companies give a good volume of quality jobs to their local communities.
If we were to talk to people in manufacturing who have been involved in exporting over the last three years, I think we would find that they do not agree that we should stay out of the euro. We must give greater support to more of those industries and individual businesses.
Northern Ireland has developed some excellent high- technology, software-based businesses over the past 10 years. The role and support of our two universities has been crucial and strategically significant, especially in the area of R&D. My Colleague, Esmond Birnie, said that more resources should be put into R&D in the universities. I agree with him. Indeed, more financial resources should also be given to those companies that are at the cutting edge of technology research in their particular sectors.
Since the events in New York, people here have realised that the Northern Ireland economy is a small regional economy, very much intertwined and interlocked with the international business community. The industries and services that depend on global and international demand have been severely damaged. The tourism industry in Northern Ireland, which has struggled over the past three or four years, has been dealt a severe blow. It will take time for foreign tourists to visit again, given the great uncertainty surrounding international air travel and public reluctance to fly. We hope that confidence can be rebuilt. It is crucial, therefore, that our economic development agencies be sensitive to, and supportive of, those businesses that have long-term potential.
I support the sentiments of the motion. I am not going to indulge in the more narrow political aspects of it. We are dealing with a largely economic situation. However, it is important that our local Administration should be kept going. In general, people respect and acknowledge the support that local Ministers can give when such external economic shocks affect our industry.
The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey):
I have listened to many constructive and encouraging contributions during this important debate, and I want to thank those Members who attended for their frank and forthright sentiments.
First, I want to outline the background to this debate. Since my statement to the Assembly last week, air attacks in Afghanistan must be added to the equation. I said that Northern Ireland was facing its stiffest economic test in more than a decade. Especially since the commencement of the counter-offensive on Sunday, it is fair to say that that test will not be for the faint-hearted. It is clear that we will pass this test only if we can demonstrate the same mettle, resilience and determination that saw us through decades of terrorism here. The coming weeks and months will not be easy for Northern Ireland plc. However, we have one huge advantage: more than at any time in our past, we are well equipped to weather the difficulties. We are taking action. It is not all doom and gloom. Our economy remains strong.
Northern Ireland continues to be a prime investment location in which to grow profitable business. Leading world economies may be on hold at the moment, and there will doubtless be some retrenchment. However, we must ensure that when the upturn happens, Northern Ireland is strategically placed to take advantage of it. The proposer of the motion gave some of the economic indicators: our competitiveness has never been better, we are producing and selling more, we are employing more people, and the underlying strength of the local economy is not in question. However, I readily acknowledge that there are structural and strategic weaknesses in productivity, output, wage levels and business birth rates. It would be foolish to brush them under the carpet.
The efforts of companies in their export drives have been showing dividends: exports have increased to almost £4 billion in 1999-2000. Seventy five thousand jobs here depend on sales outside Northern Ireland. Some 44 companies recently participated in three visits and trade events, including missions to Romania, meetings with French executives in the aerospace industry, and participation in textiles exhibitions in Dubai. Sixteen local companies leave this week on a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar. Next month, 45 representatives from local companies will take part in a trade mission to China, which is an important emerging market. The determination of our companies to continue to seek out opportunities in world markets augurs well for the economy in overcoming the challenges facing us. At a time when our industrial base is under pressure, we must ensure that existing manufacturing operations are as efficient and effective as possible.
The IDB, LEDU and the Industrial Research Technology Unit (IRTU) are working with client companies to improve efficiency, take out costs and achieve greater results. For example, I recently approved the piloting of a business improvement agent scheme under IDB's business excellence service. In this scheme Government will part-fund the cost of employing a person who has the knowledge and experience to offer continuous improvement skills to several companies. In the current circumstances, I am considering whether there is merit in extending this pilot to cover more companies.
The IDB's e-business service is promoting web-based solutions as a means to interface with companies, to find new markets and to speed up transactions. Of course, this is even more relevant if companies have air travel difficulties. I am pleased to tell Members that a consultancy contract has just been placed with a locally based business to develop e-business solutions with IDB and with appropriate LEDU clients.
We have also developed a Northern Ireland small business strategy that identifies the need to provide support for small indigenous businesses as a key objective. Under the small business strategy, a business birth rate strategy is also being developed; it will deal with generating more business start-ups. Several key initiatives have already been undertaken, and these will be part of the business birth rate strategy.
I will list a few of them. A revised business start programme aims to support 6,000 new business starts over the next four years and offers a range of training, mentoring and grant support. That is in addition to the fast growth start supported by LEDU's regional offices, over 100 per year, which are export-orientated businesses. The personal enterprise roadshow - a major event - will encourage entrepreneurship and help individuals progress their business ideas.
Business/education linkages will be developed through the Northern Ireland business and education partnership, which is supported by the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning. I met with them a few days ago. A raft of business education activities will be funded. Organisations such as Young Enterprise, Sentinus and Livewire will play a role in encouraging young people to be more positive about enterprise.
In 2001 the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's support for young enterprise will enable more than 20,000 young people to participate in schools programmes, and they will be supported by more than 1,000 business advisers. Enterprise Northern Ireland and LEDU, together with the information age initiative, have supported the development of the local enterprise agency network with a major project costing more than £2 million to build an information and communications technology network and introduce the e-business process for locally based businesses.
The local enterprise agency network is a valuable asset, with more than 300 local voluntary directors, 200 staff and more than 1,000 tenant businesses, which in turn employ more than 5,000 people. The enterprise agencies will also provide information at local level to encourage people to start businesses and deliver the business start programme.
At the end of October the Washington business summit will take place. It has been created and led by American sources. The summit is dedicated to developing economic networking opportunities between companies in the United States, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; expanding relationships amongst corporate and government leaders; and developing collaborative strategies to respond to the challenges presented, especially following the events of 11 September.
Prior to that date we had already seen the start of a slow-down in the global economy and a reduction in the flow of foreign direct investment since the start of 2001. That mirrors the experiences of our nearest competitors. The events in September will have brought uncertainty into international markets, particularly to north America, which traditionally has been the largest market for investment in Northern Ireland.
The IDB had record results for inward investment last year but anticipates a much-reduced level of inward investment this year from all major markets as the global economy continues to slow down. Nevertheless, some sectors, such as software and biotechnology, will continue to demonstrate growth and provide inward investment opportunities. We will pursue all such opportunities with current and potential investors.
Several Members mentioned the tourism fund. Clearly there is uncertainty in the tourism industry due to the present unpredictability in the economic, political and travel situations. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is in a unique position to benefit from market intelligence from the British Tourism Authority's (BTA) and Bord Fáilte's international networks. NITBs approach has been to work with Tourism Ireland Ltd to analyse several likely developments and their impact on travel demand and Northern Ireland's competitive stance within the "Ireland" brand.
Tourism Ireland Ltd and NITB will announce a detailed domestic and international tourism strategy for 2002 in November. Cohesion of effort with Northern Ireland industry will be the key to success. The availability of competitive access is critically important to tourism performance. In recent years the advent of low-cost carriers increased capacity, and competition, thereby acting as a driver for growth, especially in the British market.
NITB will work in partnership with key carriers and operators to determine the best prospects for 2002 and will benefit from the additional selling platforms Tourism Ireland Ltd and the extensive BTA network will provide. Both organisations are committed to profiling the Northern Ireland region and its products in key markets. However, some Members noted that there have been some redundancies because companies have lost orders. My Department's officials have been in contact with client companies to discuss ways of limiting job losses and to look towards recovery.
I have already mentioned some of the programmes that IDB and LEDU have in place and in which companies are already participating.
Members have raised many points, and I will try to respond to as many as I can. If I miss any out, I apologise.
3.45 pm
In giving many of the statistics, Mr McClarty set the scene. He spoke about the airlines, as did other Members throughout the House. We are doing what we can. Mr Mallon and I are initiating negotiations and working closely with Gregory Campbell, the Minister for Regional Development, who has charge of the airport issue. We have a keen interest in it from a tourism perspective. We have been making approaches on behalf of Belfast International Airport. The key issue is not simply which airline flies - although that is important - but the landing slots at the airport. If one loses those slots and they are sold off for international trade, then nobody can fly from Belfast to London, for example. That is a huge problem.
Mr McClarty took the opportunity to mention some little local issues in East Londonderry, such as AVX. I am pleased to say that having gone through a difficult period in recent months, that company is beginning to bounce back a bit and some recruitment has recommenced. Both Mr McClarty and Mr Dallat mentioned the question of how tourism affects their borough. I was pleased earlier this year to be associated with the North West Fest and with the attempt that was made locally to resuscitate the borough from the huge blow caused by foot-and-mouth disease. Nobody could deny the impact of that on the local economy, but there was a willingness, led by a consortium including the council and local tourism operators, to do something to help restore their fortunes. We were pleased to be able to identify with that.
Mr Poots raised the issue of the Department's budget. He is, of course, correct. A few weeks ago people were saying that we did not need the budget; everything was going well. I kept making the point that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's budget is largely discretionary. It is not like education or health; we know how many doctors or teachers there are, and we can easily calculate what they need. That is not the case with our budget. Because it is not already pre-committed, the tendency is to grab it and use it for something that it is pre-committed. We have been making the point that if we do not spend our budget, it goes back into the pot.
We must recognise that if we have a strong economy, the other Departments will benefit. Equally, if we have a weak economy, other Departments will suffer. There is a proven link between health, education, et cetera and a strong economic base. I have been able to retain the baseline levels for next year because we have been performing better. We have had a deliberate policy of trying to drive down the cost per job, and we were therefore able to pass some money back into central funds last year. Certainly that might have been the expectation this year up until this point. But, as Mr Poots rightly asked, who now knows?
He also took the opportunity to raise the question of consolidation. That is a good point, because consolidation will be the name of the game. Mr Poots cited Kilkeel as a site of consolidation. Mr Wells is now in the Chamber; I know that he and others have been working hard in that area.
Mr Wells:
Does the hon Member accept that the American board of directors of B/E Aerospace, the parent company of the Kilkeel plant, was extremely impressed by the work of both his Department and IDB in bringing together the funding package? No decision has yet been issued, but everything that could have been done in Northern Ireland has been achieved. Now the decision is entirely with the American parent company.
Sir Reg Empey:
I am grateful to the Member for his comments. I hope that we will be successful in that. It is out of our hands now, but if there is anything that we can do, we will certainly try. It is important to try; one cannot just sit back and allow these things to happen.
Mr John Kelly seems to have made a bit of smash- and-grab contribution, because he has gone. As soon as he made it, he went. He talked about the suspension of the Assembly and so on; Mr Neeson and a number of other Members also mentioned that. None of us here wants to see the institutions suspended.
I want to be able to continue to do my job if I am permitted to do so. However, that is all very well, but people must understand that the basis on which we are here has several component parts to it - a number of foundation stones. Sadly, one of those parts has been severely weakened. There is the question of understanding the arrangements that were entered into. In business, as in politics, if those arrangements are not honoured, everything else is undermined. That is the issue. I took the opportunity, in an intervention in yesterday's debate, to make the point that there is no desire on my part to see devolution concluded - far from it - but there must be movement from those who possess weapons. The use of weapons during the past 30 years has created many of the economic difficulties that we now encounter. People must get that into their heads.
Mr Neeson talked about the Heathrow situation. I have referred to that and to the vacuum that may be created. I fully understand that, and Mr Neeson knows what the solution is.
Ms Morrice seems to be on a bit of a role with the euro. I am focused on the need to assist indigenous industry. She must understand that the figures can be misleading. Companies that may have originated overseas and have subsequently reinvested over the years, such as DuPont and others, may appear in those figures. It all depends on how you define those companies - are they indigenous if they have been here for 40 years or are they blow-ins? However, the point has been made, and I understand what the Member is saying.
Dr Birnie referred to research and development. Dr Farren and I are working closely on that, and we have written to our ministerial Colleagues, Ms Rodgers and Ms de Brún, who have a specific role in research and development. We are trying to work together, and we hope to arrange a meeting to discuss how we can improve not only the amount of money available for research and development, but its performance. That is the key issue. I can assure Dr Birnie that it has always been my intention to ensure that research, development and innovation are at the core of the new agency being formed. I hope that that will be achieved, given that we are not putting enough into research and development. That has to be addressed. However, it is not simply a matter of money; it is also about targeting and quality.
Joe Byrne talked about consumer demand, energy costs and exchange rates, which are all major issues. Ms Morrice also raised the issue of energy. Kirk McClure Morton has done a report on wind energy throughout the shores and coastal areas of the whole island. Mrs O'Rourke, the Minister for Public Enterprise in the Republic, and I are working closely on that, and we intend to bring forward new proposals. We in Northern Ireland are committed to creating new proposals for sustainable energy. We have an ambitious target of 10% of our supply of electricity coming from renewable sources in the next few years. It is a jolly good idea, but first we must address the high costs that we have now. As the year progresses, I hope that proposals will be made on how to do that. There will be gnashing of teeth when they are made, because it will not to be cheap to buy our way out of the contracts.
Mr Wells:
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I understand that the Business Committee met today. There is some confusion over whether the Assembly will meet next Monday. Can you confirm whether the Assembly will meet next week or not?
Mr Deputy Speaker:
You may discuss the matter with your Whip.
Mr S Wilson:
Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Do you realise that you have prevented Mr Wells from being the last Member to speak during this session?
Mr Deputy Speaker:
This is the second time that he has tried to do that.
Mr K Robinson:
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and well spotted. Mr Wells falls at the final hurdle.
I welcome the opportunity to wind up the debate. The contribution from many, if not all Members who spoke, has been mostly positive. I particularly welcome the presence of the Minister throughout the debate. He has a tight schedule, but he has remained here and taken note of the positive points that have been made.
When Mr McClarty and I decided to bring the matter to the House, we thought that it was a timely motion, and I am delighted to say that it seems to have achieved support from all corners of the Chamber.
Last week, Sir Reg Empey said that Northern Ireland was facing its stiffest economic test in more than a decade. It is somewhat ironic that after 30 years of terror inflicted on the Province, we are suddenly faced with the economic and human effects of international terrorism. Our purpose in tabling the motion was to draw attention to the stark realities that Northern Ireland now faces, and the Chamber must be mobilised to take responsibility for generating a favourable climate for future economic investment and expansion.
We all have a role to play in achieving that, but there is a particular onus on some groups who are absent today. For 30 years, our positive marketing opportunities were limited by terrorist violence. Now that our economy has picked up significantly in recent times, it is imperative that we do not allow the intentions of international terrorists or the intransigence of local terrorists, or, as Mr Durkan called them yesterday, the "obdurocrats", to damage our growing reputation as an advantageous investment location.
We are not immune to world economic conditions. The announcement during the past week of the loss of 2,200 jobs at Bombardier Aerospace and British Airways is a reflection of that vulnerability. It has left many families in shock and despair, including many in Newtownabbey in my constituency of East Antrim. Because Northern Ireland is a small economy, centred within the jet stream, as it were, of the world economic climate, we suffer the full effects of the economic winds from the west.
The events of 11 September have hastened and deepened an already unstable global economic position. The implication of those trends for Northern Ireland is alarming. We need not, however, be unduly pessimistic. As has been said by several Members, we have an opportunity. The IDB has created 16,000 from outside sources which means that 4,000 jobs have been created internally. There is a possibility, to which several Members referred, that we might find a way to retain jobs and to expand them. Two fifths of our exports are going outside the United Kingdom. In ordinary times, that would be very positive and something that we would seek to increase. However, I want to touch on a couple of sectors that will be hardest hit by the global economic downturn.
The aerospace industry has suffered dramatically, and the knock-on effects, as Mr Wells and others have mentioned, have gone far beyond the areas that are traditionally seen as the centre of the industry. It is a multi-sectoral industry: it contributes to aerodynamics, mechanical, electronic, software, science and technology bases. The industry has the most intensive research and development in the engineering sector. It is one that we must protect as far as we can. I thank the Minister for the efforts that he has already made.
It is imperative that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department for Employment and Learning demonstrate their commitment to resolving the difficulties faced by the aerospace industry. It is vital that the workers who will lose their jobs are adequately advised, supported and re-skilled to meet the needs of tomorrow's global marketplace, a marketplace that will inevitably experience growth in the future. Advice and support for the redundant workers at Bombardier Shorts on issues relating to self-employment business start-up should be forthcoming from agencies such as LEDU.
Recently, the Department of Trade and Industry produced a report that said that one million jobs would be created in the small-and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector in the UK in the next decade. That is also the key to our future success. We must ensure that SMEs in Northern Ireland are the main drivers of economic growth and can produce the innovation and job creation that is vital for the future. Our ability to attract domestic, national and international SMEs will be crucial to the drive to ensure that the Northern Ireland economy is balanced and stable. There is no room for complacency in the Chamber or in our economy. We must recognise that the economy relies to a large extent on foreign direct investment and that it is, therefore, susceptible to global instability.
For the foreseeable future, not many people will travel across the Atlantic from the United States. However, we are a European region, and we should turn our attention to the market in Europe, which is now larger than the American market. I have just returned from Poland, where I saw the impact that can be made if Europe extends its boundaries to the east. We could easily attract European visitors to Northern Ireland who cannot go to the United States. We have good, efficient ferry services in the North Channel, and the North Sea services improve each year. Before the new season, our tourist industry should investigate the growing European market.
The Programme for Government stated that the Executive would work to attract inward investment, improve efficiency in our economy, ensure that businesses and consumers have access to regulatory services of an international standard, and - importantly - increase Northern Ireland's attractiveness to visitors. We have the potential to do something and do it soon.
I was particularly impressed by what Dr McDonnell said about the global economy and the opportunities for growing prosperity. Such prosperity can be slow to build up and can be taken away at a stroke. We have all learnt that in the past few weeks. Every Member who spoke said that small indigenous industries were the key; that is something on which we should major. Dr McDonnell referred to the opportunity to develop niche markets, such as bioscience, and that might create opportunities for growth.
Mr Poots made the obvious point that terrorism had stunted the growth of our tourism industry. Perhaps there is an opportunity for our friends from across the Chamber to do something positive and help us become a tourist magnet. He also suggested the creation of a departmental early warning system to identify weaknesses in our economy; that is vital. If we can identify the indicators, we can deal with the situation before it arrives on our doorstep. That way, we could head off some of the worse eventualities that might lie ahead.
Mr Neeson mentioned the indigenous industrial base and the opportunities for the EU. I am at one with Mr Neeson on that. He welcomed Sir Reg Empey's interdepartmental approach, as do we all. Ms Morrice wanted us to consider economic policy. I agree with her that it is not a time to sit in the corner and moan, but to think about where we have come from, where we are now and where we might go in the future. She said that we needed a new focus; most of us would agree with that. She spoke about the Irish linen and shipbuilding industries et cetera, and her comments on those were welcome on this side of the House. We wondered about her dress code today; we do not know whether her suit is Irish linen, but we shall ask her after the debate.
Ms Morrice:
It is.
Mr K Robinson:
That is good.
Dr Birnie spoke about research and development. We should invest more of our gross domestic product in that, and there should be an interdepartmental approach.
Dr Birnie also said that economic agencies needed to encourage overseas marketing and prepare Northern Ireland for the euro. I agree with him about the possibilities there.
Mr Dallat made some of the local - [Interruption].
Ms Morrice:
Will the Member give way?
Mr K Robinson:
No, I will not give way. Mr Dallat made some of the usual remarks about the wonderful places around the north coast and those remarks were replicated beside me. Mr Sammy Wilson said that the Northern Ireland economy was too reliant on the public sector - [Interruption].
A Member:
He has run away.
Mr K Robinson:
He has run away, but we want to move away from that.
I thank the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for attending the debate and for the positive remarks that he made. I also thank the Members who contributed to the debate.
Mr Wells:
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I reject the scurrilous remarks made by the hon Member for East Belfast, Mr Wilson.
Ms Morrice:
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Do you agree that that was not a point of order?
Mr Deputy Speaker:
I have not dealt with the first point of order, but I am sure that the House will understand the point being made.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved:
That this Assembly, realising the full extent of international terrorism, resolves that the Executive should re-double its efforts to safeguard existing industries in Northern Ireland and give maximum support to agencies responsible for the generation of new national and international investment.
Adjourned at 4.07 pm.
8 October 2001 / Menu / 15 October 2001