During Assembly Questions to the DETI minister, local TUV MLA Jim Allister challenged the minister on what he called the “neglect of North Antrim.”
Quoting official figures from the minister’s department, Mr Allister pointed out in the last five years the constituency has only had 8 visits from potential foreign investors, in 2014 received less than 2 per cent of Invest NI’s investment across the province and 574 new jobs created in the last three years, in contrast to 1310 in the minister’s Fermanagh constituency.
Commenting Jim Allister said he was disappointed the minister did not face up to the issues. “But then what can you say if as minister you’ve provided over uncomfortable but indisputable facts, such as only 8 FDI visits in 5 years, compared to 739 to Belfast constituencies. The minister may not like it, but I will not be deterred from fighting for a fair deal for North Antrim, particularly in the aftermath of the pending loss of JTI.”