Speeches by Kane.

“My final question is about leadership—I can ask this only of you, because you are the only one here of the two main parties. It is a really difficult situation. We heard from Matthew O’Toole and Mr Tennyson about the political Parcheesi—about the blocking and the stopping rather than the creating and the common good. T…”

“My observation of Northern Ireland politics while I have been on the Committee is that there is huge co-operation in private between all politicians. I am glad to know that things were in a better place when you were a special adviser there, Mr Robinson.”

“My observation of Northern Ireland politics while I have been on the Committee is that there is huge co-operation in private between all politicians. I am glad to know that things were in a better place when you were a special adviser there, Mr Robinson.”

“I would say in response that having an Executive does help people to get off waiting lists and does fix the potholes.”

“I know, like all of us around this table, that it was to redress a grievance, and they carried on doing that.”

“On the 2022 issue, I do not want to be critical of the DUP but, in people’s political zeitgeist, what do they remember about that collapse? Do they remember a technical protocol issue, or do they remember the fact that 90 MLAs had 730 days off legislating and scrutinising, on full pay?”

“Hi Gavin. Thank you for being here. Of the two main parties, at least I can ask you the questions that I would like to ask of the other main party—but obviously they are not here for historical reasons. Without getting into the issue of what happened in 2022, because I will ask about that next, do you think the collaps…”

“On the 2022 issue, I do not want to be critical of the DUP but, in people’s political zeitgeist, what do they remember about that collapse? Do they remember a technical protocol issue, or do they remember the fact that 90 MLAs had 730 days off legislating and scrutinising, on full pay?”

“I know, like all of us around this table, that it was to redress a grievance, and they carried on doing that.”

“I have a quickfire question on the barriers to growth. This is to all three of you, starting with Simon. If you had a magic wand, in a Harry Potter style, and could zap something, which barrier would you get rid of?”

“Simon, on cyber and software, in our brief today I was astonished by a report in 2021 that showed that 46,000 people were employed in software jobs in Northern Ireland alone. When we were in Dublin recently, we looked with envy at its trade surplus, which mainly comes from big pharma and IT. I was wondering what the al…”

“That is really useful and interesting. Thank you, Richard. “Game of Thrones” is always on our bingo card, so you got there first.”

“That is because it is a trust port.”

“That might be something we should take up ourselves as a Committee.”

“We know that the last Government and this Government have parcelled up every square inch of seabed to lease, other than those that cannot be done because of wrecks or shipping lanes. When do we expect the leases for Northern Ireland to be released?”

“Gentlemen, thank you very much for joining us today. This is a general question on what role your sectors have in driving economic growth. It is such good news. Interestingly, your joint industries are extraordinarily linked to the development of Belfast Harbour. It has announced £300 million for renewable offshore ene…”

“Planning and grid issues come up quite regularly. We hear your frustration. For you, Richard, what would be a barrier or an opportunity?”

“Who does contracts for difference sit with?”

“This would be publicly procured contracts that have an apprenticeship, skills or jobs element. Shane, I will ask the same question to you. Except for seabed licences, what would be a game changer?”

“I have a quickfire question on the barriers to growth. This is to all three of you, starting with Simon. If you had a magic wand, in a Harry Potter style, and could zap something, which barrier would you get rid of?”