Titanic Signature Project

Part of Enterprise, Trade and Investment – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:15 pm on 23 February 2010.

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Photo of Arlene Foster Arlene Foster DUP 3:15, 23 February 2010

I am fully aware of the engineering capacity of Hughes Christensen — or Baker Hughes — and its employees. That is something that I will continue to keep an eye on, because I believe that our firms here in Northern Ireland should have the opportunity to apply for big contracts wherever they may be, but, obviously, I have particular interest in the Titanic Quarter, given the amount of public money that has been made available. If people bring me evidence or ask me questions about the Titanic Quarter, I am more than happy to speak to Titanic Foundation Ltd and Harcourt directly to ensure that local people have the opportunity not only to gain employment but to have access to the subcontract work.

Part of the memorandum of understanding that was drawn up, with which Belfast City Council was involved, because of the money that it put into the Titanic signature project, includes various clauses about social, economic and environmental issues. One of those is to encourage the economically inactive back into the workplace, and Harcourt has agreed to secure the creation of employment opportunities for one long-term unemployed person — defined as someone who has been unemployed for at least three months — either directly or through the supply chain for each £5 million of the project value.

Therefore, those social and economic clauses are included in the memorandum of understanding. It is important that those are complied with, and we must ensure that they are.