We also had a revealing insight into how our current Sinn Fein Economy Minister views her responsibilities. When challenged this week by our Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley on the tariffs issue and how Northern Ireland is vulnerable should the EU and US engage in tit-for-tat action, the Minister’s priority was not the Northern Ireland economy, but rather the “all-island economy.” That’s not just disappointing, it’s irrational.
In the same Committee meeting, our North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett asked the Economy Minister if any employer had contacted her in support of her draft Good Jobs Bill. He received a long-winded answer but no indication any employers backed the draft bill which will lumber employers with more red tape.
Northern Ireland deserves an Economy Minister who is focused first and foremost on the Northern Ireland economy. The clue is in the job title. We cannot afford to have Ministers who would rather bat for another team or try to play for both sides. We need leadership across each Department that puts Northern Ireland first. That’s what the community expects from our Economy Minister.
These two examples, wasting £1m on a pointless role, and an Economy Minister who won’t commit to prioritising our economy, expose the very real challenges we face in making the kind of progress I want for Northern Ireland.
The same parties that cry about underfunding and the pressures on our public services are the ones who support vanity projects over what really matters to working people across Northern Ireland. How can we make a genuine pitch to Treasury for more funding for our public services, when we see such obvious examples of wasted taxpayers’ money?
Faced with these challenges, we will continue to stand up for common sense. We will fight to ensure that every penny of public money is spent wisely and on priorities that matter to you and your family - not squandered to appease a narrow or flawed political agenda that ignores realities faced by every home in Northern Ireland.
Have a good weekend.
