Ulster Unionist Economy spokesperson, Steve Aiken MLA, has said that a great opportunity to carve out a Northern Ireland manufacturing strategy has been lost.
Steve Aiken MLA, who is Vice-Chair of the Economy Committee, said:
“We wanted the first piece of Opposition business to be something that could garner support from the entire Assembly and demonstrate to the public that the Executive and Opposition could be in agreement on things that benefit Northern Ireland. Sadly, a great opportunity to carve out a Northern Ireland manufacturing strategy has been lost.
“The local manufacturing industry has been hard hit. We have seen the major job losses and we have heeded the warnings that something needs to be done. That is why we proposed a standalone, bespoke manufacturing strategy for Northern Ireland, it is indefensible that the Executive could not support this.
“We are only in the first day of business at Stormont and the DUP’s default position that any expression of concern over the current state of the manufacturing industry is “talking Northern Ireland down” already sounds hollow. There are very real concerns out there, the Executive can’t put their fingers in their ears and pretend they can’t hear them for the next five years.
“There were appeals from within the sector for the Assembly to vote in favour of our motion today, sadly that seems to have fallen on ignorant ears. But the Ulster Unionist Party will continue to make the case for a stand-alone manufacturing strategy, and will hold the Executive to account on the commitments that were made today.”