"I see the Minister of State nodding vigorously and looking bemused that I should raise the matter today, but I do so for this reason: although the intervention on long-haul flights was welcome and positive, and although I know the Government have recommitted to the devolution of the matter to …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"5. What recent assessment he has made of the effect on tourism of differential rates of VAT in the hospitality industries in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...." Naomi Long - View Speech
"The Minister is right to draw attention to the success that Northern Ireland has enjoyed as a result of the efforts of the Northern Ireland Assembly. However, given that tourism is so price-sensitive, will the Government think again about the potential offered by a VAT reduction? We are currently …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"I agree with the hon. Gentleman on that point. Does he agree with me that if the public sector is cut too quickly, without growth in the private sector, much of the good work to try to get people into employment is undone, perversely? Also, more demand for the public …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"The banks tell me how few people they turn down when applying for loans. However, the small businesses that say they cannot access finance say that they are dissuaded, at the first hurdle, from applying for loans and are told that, if they did, they probably would not get them. …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"I am glad to participate in the debate because rebalancing the economy of Northern Ireland has been on the agenda of my party and of many other parties for a considerable time. It must be realised, however, that the current economic climate—the challenges presented to public expenditure, the availability of …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"The hon. Gentleman is one step ahead of me, as always. I thank him for bringing that point to my attention. I was about to say that the opportunity to consider aviation as part of the Committee’s future studies is hugely important, because we can look at the interconnectedness of …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"I certainly commend that. If one is ambitious, there is always the risk of failure, but if one is pessimistic and the bar is not set high enough, no one reaches out and there is often under-achievement. It is good that the Executive have set robust targets. It is good …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the security response is a hugely important part of the response to paramilitarism? We also need an economic response to help people invest more in their communities and get better jobs, which they do not want to see destroyed. That would be another …..." Naomi Long - View Speech
"The right hon. Gentleman has been generous about taking interventions. Does he agree that, as is so often the case, there is still negativity, even about such important and positive projects, and that part of what we need to do is not just to market these things internationally to potential …..." Naomi Long - View Speech