SDLP Ballyarnett councillor Rory Farrell
He was speaking a council debate on the performance of Invest NI across the Derry & Strabane district.
Said the Ballyarnett representative: “It’s abundantly clear and abundantly apparent that Invest NI works for Belfast and it fails miserably for Derry.
“It attracts jobs, opportunity and investment to Belfast and very little of anything to our city.
“And we have said for two years that Invest NI must have regional targets and a key focus on investment and jobs in the north west.
“We have invited the Economy Minister repeatedly to discuss these proposals, and it must be remembered that the Economy Minister has complete control over Invest NI policy.
“Regional targets have not been introduced. Nothing has changed and the Economy Minister, despite numerous invitations, has not shown up.
“The latest response suggests that the DUP minister does not have diary availability at present.
“No DUP Economy Minister over the last two years has had diary availability.
“Either they’re very busy or they don’t care, I suspect the latter.”
Cllr Farrell concluded: “I firmly believe that the DUP is allergic to this city.
“I firmly believe that the DUP has little concern for this city and district and its prospects.
“And whether you call this place Derry, Doire or Londonderry – they just don’t care.
“And everyone, regardless of what you call this place, benefits from more jobs and better jobs, and at the minute everybody is being failed.”
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