Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Part of Oral Answers to Questions – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:00 pm on 19 March 2013.

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Photo of Arlene Foster Arlene Foster DUP 2:00, 19 March 2013

It is very clear.  We intend to grow our private sector, and that is very clearly set out in our Programme for Government.  Of course, at a national level, we are dealing with a very significant deficit and, as part of the United Kingdom, we bear part of that deficit.  We want to be able to grow the private sector and, I have to say, reduce our welfare benefits.  Of course, welfare reform is dealing with that at the moment.

There are also deficits across the euro zone.  We look with interest and, indeed, some alarm, at what is happening in Cyprus and the fact that Italy was unable to elect a clear Government.  There are problems across the euro zone and some alarming signs, particularly in relation to what happened in Cyprus over the weekend.