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

I thank the Member for his question.  We have long said that we need corporation tax powers as a tool to help to close the deficit and bring economic prosperity to Northern Ireland.  There is a well-established, long-standing need to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy.

This morning, I was very interested to read that the chair of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) here, Ian Coulter, has started a campaign similar to the UK City of Culture in relation to corporation tax, and has adopted the Snow Patrol song 'Just Say Yes'.  The CBI is going to keep pushing the issue until the First Minister and deputy First Minister meet the Prime Minister.  I wholly support that.  It is two years since the initial consultation was launched, and the delay in reaching a decision means that we are losing out on real jobs and investment opportunities at a time when we need them most.  We absolutely need a positive conclusion to be brought to that debate.