Invest NI stalls FOI on withdrawal of 300 NI jobs - citing 'physical or mental health' and 'safety' concerns
Invest NI has said it needs more time to decide whether it will release information relating to the withdrawal of an offer of investment by a major US firm – citing legal exemptions about the safety or physical and mental health of individuals.
The public body – charged with securing Foreign Direct Investment into Northern Ireland – has also said it needs to determine whether releasing information would prejudice UK economic interests or commercial interests.
It comes after the News Letter sought all records held by Invest NI in relation to a potential jobs investment by Cantor Fitzgerald in Northern Ireland – including the minutes of a meeting between the company and the Sinn Fein economy minister Caoimhe Archibald, at which the investment was paused.
The DUP’s Jonathan Buckley first raised the issue at Stormont’s economy committee – questioning whether the minister’s political views had caused the firm to quit. He later cited the minister’s views on the conflict in Gaza as a factor in the company’s decision to withdraw the offer.
Minutes of the meeting released by the Department for the Economy (DfE) showed the company said it would not be proceeding with the potential investment after a discussion on “current geopolitical issues”.
Ms Archibald previously said the company’s decision was “absolutely a matter for them” – and that parties should express political positions “as they feel”. Her top official Ian Snowden said he didn’t have the detail on why the investment fell through – but said a senior leader of the company was a member of President Trump’s cabinet, and overseas investments may not have aligned with US government policy at that point.
The News Letter submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Invest NI, seeking “all records in relation to a potential jobs investment by Cantor Fitzgerald in Northern Ireland, the minutes of the meeting between Cantor Fitzgerald and the Economy Minister in the United States, at which the investment was paused”.
The trade body has said that it holds information relating to the request, but it requires more time to consider whether its release is in the public interest. It cites three “qualified FOI exemptions” under the legislation.
The organisation 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.
It 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 being weighed up by officials is whether the information constitutes a trade secret, or would prejudice the commercial interests of any person, including Invest NI.
Earlier this year, Sinn Fein faced questions about its attitude to US investment after the first minister and economy minister missed a meeting with Bank of America, which had pledged 1000 jobs for Northern Ireland.
DfE permanent secretary Ian Snowden had faced questions from the economy committee chair Phillip Brett MLA about why the department had not promoted the investment on its website.
Mr Snowdon pointed to a UK government press release when the jobs were announced, in which the minister said her department looked forward “to engaging with Bank of America (BoA) to successfully implement these investments”.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and the economy minister skipped a meeting with the bank when its representatives visited Stormont, with only the DUP deputy first minister Emma Little Pengelly in attendance.
Emails obtained by the News Letter under FOI show the first minister’s private office had said Ms O’Neill was “keen” to meet with Bank of America when news first emerged about the BoA investment, via the UK government. Minister Archibald was also planning to attend the meeting. However, despite attempts by Executive Office civil servants to organise the meeting, it did not happen.
One of the largest financial institutions in the United States, BoA has faced criticism from some left wing and pro-Palestine activists over dealings with Israeli companies. Such groups have opposed any business dealings with Israel over the ongoing conflict with Islamist militants in the Gaza strip.