Invest NI appointments 'par for the course' under SF minister - where the body is 'drowned in ethical investment policy' - UUP
Invest NI has become “a synonym for political activism” which has drowned itself in ethical investment policies and driven away American and defence sector investment, an Ulster Unionist MLA has said.
On Thursday, the Sinn Fein economy minister announced five new appointments to the inward investment body’s board, confirming that two of them have canvassed on behalf of her party in recent years. One of the appointees is the party’s former finance minister and South Belfast MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.
Steve Aiken MLA says the appointments are “par for the course” for minister Caoimhe Archibald, and that in difficult economic times the body is “an obvious quango worth culling”.
The Department for the Economy says the minister’s appointments are “made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process”.
Mr Aiken, the UUP’s economy spokesperson, told the News Letter: “Invest NI has become a synonym for political activism in the guise of investment. Under Sinn Fein it has been directed to become a glorified Enterprise Ireland with responsibility for the ‘west of the north’, has drowned itself in ‘ethical’ investment policy, doing nothing more than encouraging US companies to invest elsewhere and defence companies to ignore them.
“The last thing it does is Invest in Northern Ireland companies, the money spent on the large number of staff and the building that they bought with their own resources, instead of helping the Small and Medium Enterprise sector would be much better spent elsewhere - on Research and Development in our higher education sector or in our innovative companies.
“Giving board positions to prominent SF supporters is par for the course for an economy minister who seems to be continuously promoting Donegal, as she never seems to be able to enunciate the very country she’s the Minister for. In these highly cash strapped times Invest NI is an obvious quango worth culling”.
A DfE spokesperson said: “The appointments have been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland”.
Two of the appointees confirmed political activity in the last 5 years, Peter Lynch and Máirtín Ó Muilleoir have both canvassed on behalf of Sinn Fein, DfE said.