Home / Sources / Select Committees / Northern Ireland Affairs Comm… / Economic growth in Northern Ireland: ne…
Index live
Select Committee · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors

Status: Open Opened: 10 Jul 2025 8 recommendations 5 conclusions 1 report

Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission for this Government’s term in office. In this inquiry, the committee will examine plans to deliver economic growth in Northern Ireland, including the recent UK Industrial Strategy, with a particular reference to emerging sectors or ‘industries of the future’. Read our call for evidence here for more … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and e… HC 1193 23 Mar 2026 13 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
3 Recommendation 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Acknowledged

There should be a Northern Ireland representative on the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, to ensure...

There should be a Northern Ireland representative on the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, to ensure the voice of Northern Ireland’s business community can feed into policy development and ensure that the Strategy appropriately supports economic growth in Northern Ireland. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23) Support for SMEs Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of Northern Ireland's voice in UK-wide policy and states it is currently considering how NI voices can be more effectively heard within national policy development structures, including through representation on decision-making panels.
Read full response →
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
6 Conclusion 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Acknowledged

Intertrade UK has the potential to be a key source of advice and solutions for...

Intertrade UK has the potential to be a key source of advice and solutions for the UK Government, but its Board membership needs to be broader to ensure that the east-west trade challenges faced by GB-based businesses are considered. It has taken longer than necessary for the Government to establish … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the committee's reflections on Intertrade UK and endorses its potential as a source of advice, noting that it is now implementing its work programme. However, the response does not address the committee's concern about broadening Board membership or the time taken for …
Read full response →
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office
7 Recommendation 4th Report – Economic growth in Norther… Acknowledged

The Secretary of State should appoint a GB representative to the Board of Intertrade UK.

The Secretary of State should appoint a GB representative to the Board of Intertrade UK. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40) Unlocking economic growth

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the desire for broader representation on the Intertrade UK Board and states it has discussed this with the Chair, committing to consider further appointments in line with the organisation’s Terms of Reference.
Read full response →
Northern Ireland Executive Northern Ireland Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
29 Jun 2026 Blair McDougall MP · Department for Business and Trade, Matthew Patrick MP · Northern Ireland Office, Paul Flynn · Northern Ireland Office, Sally Jones · Department for Business and Trade View ↗
3 Jun 2026 Richard Williams · Northern Ireland Screen, Sam Turner · Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Shane Corcoran · RenewableNI, Shane Corcoran · RenewableNI, Simon Whittaker · NI Cyber, Steven Morrison · Agrifood and Bioscience Institute View ↗
4 Feb 2026 Colin McCabrey · InterTradeIreland, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee DBE · Intertrade UK View ↗
7 Jan 2026 Alison McCullagh · Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Tim McClelland - Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), Steven Norris · Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council View ↗
19 Nov 2025 David Quinn · Queen's University Belfast, Professor Paul Bartholomew · Ulster University, Robert Hill · Matrix Panel, Stuart Anderson · Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Shane Corcoran · Senior Policy Analyst, Grid, Grid Capacity & Mark… RenewableNI 2
Alison McCullagh · Chief Executive Fermanagh and Omagh District Council 1
Blair McDougall MP · Minister for Small Business and Economic Transfor… Department for Business and Trade 1
Colin McCabrey · Director of Trade InterTradeIreland 1
Councillor Tim McClelland - Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) — 1
David Quinn · Executive Director for the Belfast Region City De… Queen's University Belfast 1
Matthew Patrick MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northe… Northern Ireland Office 1
Paul Flynn · Deputy Director for Windsor Framework Taskforce Northern Ireland Office 1
Professor Paul Bartholomew · Vice Chancellor Ulster University 1
Richard Williams · Chief Executive Northern Ireland Screen 1
Robert Hill · Chair Matrix Panel 1
Sally Jones · Deputy Director, Industrial Strategy Implementati… Department for Business and Trade 1
Sam Turner · Chief Executive Officer Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Queen's University Belfast 1
Simon Whittaker · Chair NI Cyber 1
Steven Morrison · Head of Sustainable Livestock Systems Agrifood and Bioscience Institute 1
Steven Norris · Deputy Director of Regeneration and Infrastructure Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council 1
Stuart Anderson · Director of Public Affairs & International Relati… Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry 1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee DBE · Chair Intertrade UK 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Jul 2026 — Correspondence from Department for Business and trade relating to Economic Grow…
4 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the reserve claim of £40…