UK Europe Minister James Cleverly has prompt the scale of the general public sector in Northern Eire could also be contributing to higher financial efficiency figures, versus the protocol.
The feedback come after current experimental information from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) confirmed Northern Eire’s relative restoration from the pandemic has been second solely to London.
Talking to the Home of Lords European Affairs Committee assembly on Tuesday, Mr Cleverly mentioned it was “not but clear” why the economic system right here was doing properly, however identified the scale of the general public sector workforce right here might level to one of many causes.
"A few of the components we all know to be true is that the general public sector in Northern Eire is proportionally bigger than in lots of different elements of the UK,” the minister mentioned.
"That's maybe extra resilient to the financial shocks we're seeing globally and throughout the UK.
"I can not in all good conscience look you within the eye and say that's undoubtedly the explanation however I feel it might be a contributory issue".
It comes after Belfast Harbour noticed their turnover enhance by 17% in 2021 rising to £73.3m on the prior 12 months, whereas working earnings had been up 13% to £34m.
The harbour claimed the constructive figures had been boosted by “the grace intervals related to the implementation of the Northern Eire Protocol”.
Commerce within the harbour reached file ranges through the 12 months, with 25.6 million tonnes of cargo passing by the port, a 9% enhance on the 23.5 million tonnes a 12 months earlier and 5% above the earlier file ranges recorded in 2019.
In the meantime, two foods and drinks companies right here introduced offers which seem to profit from the protocol.
Sandwich agency Round Midday in Newry introduced a significant provide take care of Marks & Spencer for its shops across the island of Eire.
Their chief govt Gareth Chambers mentioned NI’s current buying and selling association was making such offers simpler.
The Northern Eire proprietor of Smoothie Manufacturing unit, an American smoothie and juice bar franchise, has mentioned Belfast is the gateway to UK and Eire model growth. He has launched his model’s first department at Arc Retail within the metropolis’s Titanic Quarter.