To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she will provide specific financial support to the Northern Ireland wedding industry as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

I recently launched the Economic Recovery Action Plan for Northern Ireland which allows us to look beyond the current climate and plan for recovery. It sets out actions to support all businesses going forwards.

As the restrictions ease I look forward to better times ahead for the local economy. In the meantime my Department continues to do all it can to support businesses and individuals through this crisis.

It is important to recognise that the wedding industry is a diverse sector covering a variety of different businesses. I acknowledge that they have been particularly impacted, however many of these have been able to access support under the various schemes provided by the NI Executive and the UK Government.

Those operating from retail premises but deemed non-essential and those running wedding venues which have been forced to close, may have been eligible for support under the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme administered by the Department of Finance.

Those operating on a mobile basis, for example delivering close contact services, would have been eligible for Part A of the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme administered by Invest NI on behalf of my Department.

Supply chain businesses that would normally provide products and services to businesses required to close may have been eligible for support under Part B of the Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme.

Businesses in this sector may have also been eligible for support under UK Government schemes such as the Job Retention Scheme (furlough) for their employees and the Self-Employment Income Support Schemes (SEISS). Both of these have now been extended until September. This is an announcement which I very much welcome as it will provide invaluable support to business across Northern Ireland.

Whilst the Executive and my own Department continue to receive calls for specific targeted support, it is simply not possible to design and fund schemes for every sector of business or employment across our society.