DUP transparency call as Sinn Fein ministry cites 'safety' and 'mental health' exemptions to stall release of US jobs records
Caoimhe Archibald’s economy department has joined Invest NI in citing concerns about the health and safety of individuals to justify a delay in deciding whether it will release material relating to a controversial meeting in which a US firm pulled a jobs investment.
Cantor Fitzgerald had intensive engagement with the Sinn Fein run department for the economy – culminating in a meeting in New York last year. But the firm unexpectedly withdrew plans to create 300 jobs in Northern Ireland after a discussion with Minister Archibald about “geopolitical issues”.
The issue was first made public by Jonathan Buckley in the Assembly’s economy committee last month. Now, the DUP MLA has revealed that Invest NI – the body charged with securing foreign direct investment in the province – holds 11,000 records in relation to the US firm.
He says that shows the extent of the involvement Invest NI – which falls under the remit of the economy department (DfE) – had with the US financial services firm.
Yesterday, the News Letter reported that Invest NI said it needs more time to consider a Freedom of Information (FOI) request about its records of the meeting – citing legal exemptions, including about the safety or physical and mental health of individuals.
Mr Buckley has received a response to an FOI request from DfE, citing the same exemptions and granting itself a further 20 days to consider whether it will release the records it holds.
The Upper Bann MLA told the News Letter the public “deserve full transparency” over the cancelled investment by Cantor Fitzgerald.
“To date, we have seen only a short, in part redacted meeting note referencing ‘geopolitical considerations’, with no clear explanation of what that means or why the investment was withdrawn.
“Through Freedom of Information requests, Invest Northern Ireland has confirmed to me it holds over 11,000 records relating to Cantor Fitzgerald. That figure alone demonstrates the scale of engagement and the seriousness of this opportunity.
“Yet instead of clarity, the Department continues to cite FOI exemptions to withhold information. The Minister cannot continue to hide behind technicalities. When hundreds of jobs are at stake, the public deserve answers, not redaction and delay.
“Full transparency is essential to ensure that no political misjudgement or posturing contributed to the loss of this investment. Northern Ireland’s economic reputation depends on openness, accountability, and trust. We will continue to press for the full facts”, he said.
Both DfE and Invest NI have said that they hold information relating to the request, but it requires more time to consider whether its release is in the public interest. They cite three “qualified FOI exemptions” under the legislation.
They will now consider whether disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the economic interests of the United Kingdom or of any part of the United Kingdom. Officials will also decide whether it is exempt from disclosure because it would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or endanger the safety of any individual.
Another factor they are weighing up is whether the information constitutes a trade secret, or would prejudice the commercial interests of any person, including Invest NI or DfE.