Results 1-20 of 965 for speaker:Arlene Foster

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Consideration Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: The Forum.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Consideration Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: I am loathe to challenge the Member’s technical ability to talk about d’Hondt, but will he accept that it is just a mechanism for selecting Ministers and that it does not govern the powers of Ministers when they are appointed? The Member mentioned the establishment of an independent environmental protection agency, but that has to do with the powers of a Minister and is not...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Invest NI (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: Yes, I do. Through Northern Ireland Spin Out (NISPO), we are helping to facilitate some of the spin-outs from the universities. The NISPO funds allow companies to make the move from universities, where a lot of our innovation happens, into marketable competitive companies. The NISPO fund manager is required to proactively help increase the volume and pace of development of spin-out companies...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Invest NI (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: I welcome the comments that Richard Barnett made about R&D and innovation. Members need to remember that the Barnett report looks at Invest Northern Ireland historically, and it is acknowledged that, already, Invest Northern Ireland is making moves in relation to innovation and research and development. For example, in December last year, I announced a new grant for R&D. That grant...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Invest NI (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: As far as I am aware, that is, in part, happening through InterTradeIreland’s Acumen programme. I hope that I have named the right programme; sometimes, between Invest NI and InterTradeIreland, there are so many programmes that one gets confused. However, I think that it is the Acumen programme in which work is done with the universities to help with initial ideas and then to exploit...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Invest NI (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: The innovation vouchers programme was run as a pilot project last year, and it exceeded all our expectations. Our target for the pilot was 50 participants, but 250 vouchers were issued, so we significantly exceeded our target. The scheme gives businesses £4,000 on an innovation voucher to work with higher education colleges, universities or the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute to...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Credit Unions (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: The Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s report on its inquiry into the role and potential of credit unions in Northern Ireland was published in February 2009. HM Treasury published its independent review’s report on the legislative framework for credit unions and industrial and provident societies in July 2009. I responded positively to the findings of both reports....

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Credit Unions (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: I have always recognised the value of the credit union movement. Credit unions are vital, especially in such difficult times. Many people have turned to credit unions because they think that they are the safest place to deposit money. Credit unions are part of the community and part of who we are. I welcome the role of the credit union movement in Northern Ireland. Before the proposals were...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Credit Unions (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: My Department will continue to support the credit union movement, because we believe that is a force for good in Northern Ireland. I know that credit unions have great plans to be more proactive when they become regulated by the FSA. That will enable the bigger credit unions in particular to become more proactive. I under­stand that some have great plans for moving forward into their...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Credit Unions (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: That is still a huge issue in society, and we are reminded continually of the hardship that members of the Presbyterian Mutual Society face. On 14 October 2009, the First Minister and deputy First Minister, the Minister of Finance and Personnel and I met the ministerial working group, which is chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to review progress on finding a solution to help...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economic Policy (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: I made a statement on the independent review of economic policy in the Assembly on 5 October 2009. At that time, I welcomed the publication of the independent panel’s report and indicated that it will require the most careful consideration by everybody who plays a role in economic development. That is why I launched a six-week period of public consultation on the report and its...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economic Policy (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: The Minister said that he has reservations about decentralisation, or the Bain report as it is commonly known, because of the costs that it will incur on the block grant in the future. The Minister would most like to have a discussion around the Executive table on the implications of implementing the Bain report — or not, as the case may be. I would welcome such a discussion. It will...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economy (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: It is clear that the Northern Ireland economy is still experiencing difficulties as a result of the global recession, with unemployment continuing to rise. However, recent trends have revealed a slowdown in the rate of decline. The September increase in the unemployment claimant count was the smallest increase in the past 15 months. Additionally, output levels for the service sector...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economy (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: I know the matter to which the Member refers, because I have encountered it in my constituency. As I recall, at the beginning of the recession, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that tax offices would work with companies. I have found that one sometimes has to go back to the local tax office and push it to deal with those issues. If other Members have experienced a similar situation...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economy (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: The Member is correct: there is the prospect of a double-dip recession, and that concerns me. I listened carefully to the CEO of the Northern Bank’s announcement this morning of the bank’s latest results. He said that he was cautiously optimistic about the economy. However, cuts are coming to the public sector, which makes up a third of the economy in Northern Ireland. We should...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economy (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: I am glad that the Member mentioned last year’s US/NI investment conference. He will be aware of one of its very good outcomes, which was the recent announcement that the New York stock exchange is to make a considerable investment in the Northern Ireland economy. We sometimes overlook the significance of some announcements in the hubbub of politics. That was a hugely significant...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economy (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: The Member will be aware that, as with other United Kingdom regions, Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate has increased. It currently stands at 7·1%, which represents 57,000 individuals. As I always say, and as I said during the previous debate on the north-west region, we get hung up on statistics sometimes and do not look at the people behind them. The figure is strikingly large....

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Gas Market (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: The time frame for an all-island gas market is dependent on the establishment of a common system for operation of the two transmission networks. That includes agreement on system-operator arrangements that will give government and industry confidence that the transmission of gas across the two networks will be handled independently, efficiently and cost-effectively. Primary legislation will...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Gas Market (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: From this jurisdiction’s point of view, the reality is, actually, quite the contrary. On 22 October 2009, I met my counterpart, Minister Ryan, at the IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council energy summit in Edinburgh. We both confirmed our support for the development of common arrangements for the transmission and trading of gas based on the mutual benefits that regional co-operation on gas can...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Gas Market (3 Nov 2009)

Arlene Foster: I am awaiting the results of a consultation on further roll-out of the natural gas network in Northern Ireland. The Member will not be surprised to hear that I believe that that would bring benefits to consumers other than those who currently have the advantage of a natural gas supply. I hope to receive the report very soon. When we know the outcome of the consultation, we will be able to...