Alliance Party MP Stephen Farry has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to urgently indicate its intentions to introduce a local scheme to address youth employment. This follows the Chancellor announcing the Kickstart scheme for Great Britain two weeks ago. As Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Farry put in place the Youth Employment Scheme […]
It is vital the needs of rural areas are met in any pandemic recovery plans from the Executive, Alliance Rural Affairs spokesperson John Blair MLA has said. Mr Blair said while it was important the economy was given help to restart following the COVID-19 crisis, it was equally vital particular solutions were created for more […]
The Executive needs to produce its own local economic package focusing on skills and a green new deal as soon as possible, Alliance MP Stephen Farry has said. North Down MP Dr Farry was speaking after Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a range of measures in a bid to prevent mass unemployment after the coronavirus crisis. […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has said he is “deeply disappointed” after no trade unionists were appointed to a group designed to help build the Northern Ireland economy. Economy Minister Diane Dodds announced the membership of the Economic Advisory Group last night. The 11-member panel of economists, CEOs, managing directors and others, but has no trade […]
The Economy Minister needs to legislate to prevent employers giving staff redundancy pay calculated from furlough wages, Alliance Economy spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has said. The East Antrim MLA was speaking after Diane Dodds confirmed employers could use the wages they are paying furloughed staff – 80 per cent of contracted wages under the UK […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has said he is becoming “increasingly frustrated” with the lack of detailed answers to questions supplied by Economy Minister Diane Dodds. Speaking after he received his latest round of questions aimed at answering the real concerns of the business community, Stewart said the disappointing responses left many searching for answers on […]
A social partnership approach involving Government, businesses, trade unions and the third sector can help our economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. The North Down MLA was speaking after the Assembly backed an amendment from his party calling for such an approach to the post-coronavirus recovery, while seeking a […]
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has urged the Economy Minister to give details on what financial support her Department can provide the taxi industry to get through the pandemic. The North Down MLA said guidance relating to social distancing requirements in taxis was also needed. He made the call after the Minister failed to […]
Alliance Finance Spokesperson Andrew Muir has said that while the Coronavirus pandemic has transformed public finances for the foreseeable future, the right recovery strategy must be matched by financial security to back it up with a Regional Infrastructure Panel or Commission needed to secure swift delivery of capital investment projects. Mr Muir made the comments […]
A discretionary fund to help businesses excluded from grant support should be established to help some companies and sole traders navigate the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said. The North Down MLA said confirmation a number of businesses had been excluded from the Micro-business Hardship Fund set up […]