Irish Times and InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards
Northern Ireland Assembly
3:00 pm
Simon Hamilton (DUP)
2. asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for her assessment of the Irish Times and InterTradeIreland innovation awards. (AQO 1226/11-15)
Arlene Foster (DUP)
InterTradeIreland (ITI) has been involved in the Irish Times InterTradeIreland all-island innovation awards for the past three years. During that time, ITI has promoted and encouraged companies in both jurisdictions to engage in and involve themselves in innovation. I understand that 18 companies have been shortlisted across six categories: organisational system process innovation; product innovation; service innovation; application of R&D; green-tech innovation; and public service innovation. However, I am disappointed that only one Northern Ireland company has been shortlisted.
Simon Hamilton (DUP)
I thank the Minister for her response. I am sure that she agrees that the Irish Republic does not have a monopoly on innovation. Therefore, the statistics that she has highlighted are deeply disturbing. Will she also comment on the nomination of Bord Bia, which local food producers tell me operates an increasingly protectionist stance?
Arlene Foster (DUP)
I hear what the Member said about the latter point. I am hugely disappointed about the fact that only one of the 18 companies that have been shortlisted is a Northern Ireland company. I understand that that is not a new phenomenon. I looked into the matter: only two were shortlisted last year, and only one was shortlisted in 2010. There is a pattern, and I have to ask why that is the case. When I asked who was judging the awards, I learned that, apart from InterTradeIreland staff, all the judges are from the Republic of Ireland. That causes me grave concern, and I am writing about it to InterTradeIreland’s new chairman.
I was astonished by Bord Bia’s nomination and shortlisting given what I have said about the protectionist practices of Bord Bia in relation to Northern Ireland food. However, I am taking the matter up with the new chair of InterTradeIreland and its chief executive.
I share the Minister’s disappointment that more Northern Ireland firms have not been nominated to the shortlist. However, I hope that the Minister is not, in any way, undermining the value of having such competitions and awards, particularly for innovation, which provides an excellent basis for the development of industry, North and South. Does the Minister agree?
Arlene Foster (DUP)
Certainly, I welcome any competition that encourages innovation, but surely the Chair of the ETI Committee must be concerned that only one of our companies has been shortlisted for that award. I have to ask why that is the case. Is it the judging panel? Is it the media partner, which is ‘The Irish Times’? What is the problem in getting more companies from Northern Ireland shortlisted? In the previous question, the Member asked me about the importance of research, development and innovation. It is hugely important for our economic development that we continue to encourage companies. How are they encouraged? They are encouraged by being on shortlists for awards and all those things.
As the Chair knows, the implementation of an innovation awards scheme on a North/South basis is part of the Belfast Agreement and is listed in the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999. However, all it says is that we are to implement:
“an innovation award scheme on a North/South basis, with support from the private sector”.
Perhaps there is something that we need to look at in relation to the awards scheme to see if it could be better managed and to ensure that there is equity and fairness as regards Northern Ireland companies.
Mike Nesbitt (UUP)
The Minister has given clarity and context to her views on the nomination process. Given that, of the 18 nominated organisations, seven are from Dublin and none is from Belfast and she does not think that that is an accurate reflection of the mix, what would be an accurate reflection?
Arlene Foster (DUP)
When you see that, out of 155 applications, only 24 were from Northern Ireland companies, it tells us that there is a problem, not just in Belfast but across Northern Ireland. The issue for me — I hope that the ETI Committee will follow it up as well in respect of InterTradeIreland — is how we can make the scheme more attractive for firms to become involved, so that our small companies, as well as those of the Republic of Ireland, get the benefit of the InterTradeIreland innovation awards.
Phil Flanagan (Sinn Féin)
Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. As we grapple with the worst recession that we have faced in a generation, with soaring unemployment and emigration, the fact that this awards ceremony proves to be a priority for the DUP and its Ministers is very concerning to me. Would the Minister not be better providing support and assistance to local firms, so that they can compete across the world with innovation, instead of targeting cheap attacks on a good all-Ireland body?
Arlene Foster (DUP)
The Member’s question and the tone in which it is asked show where the Member is coming from. He is saying, “Do not ever attack InterTradeIreland”, even when there is plainly something at fault in relation to that award ceremony. If the Member thinks that I will shy away from such issues, he has obviously not been around for very long.