To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 18298/17-22, whether she will seek to set up a mechanism for structured engagement with social partners on developing wider economic policy.

As outlined in the answer to AQW 18298/17-22, my Department has a cross sector engagement forum which includes representatives from across society. I recognise that social partners have an important role to play in the development of our economy and I am fully committed to open and full engagement with all key stakeholders as my Department develops short and long-term economic policy.

Since the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department has been in close contact with stakeholders regarding the actions required to support businesses and citizens.

My Department has been in continuous contact with Trade Bodies, Councils, Arms Length Bodies, the Economic Advisory Group and others in order to gather information on the impacts of both Covid-19 and EU Exit on the Northern Ireland economy. This is input has subsequently been used to develop the Economic Recovery Action Plan, which was published on 25th February and has been strongly endorsed by the business community here.

On 21st of April, my Department hosted a virtual stakeholder event to continue the discussion on recovery in recognition that partnership and collaboration are key to the successful delivery of the actions set out in the Plan. A wide range of organisations were present at this event including a representative of the voluntary and community sector.

The Vision for a 10x Economy, launched on 11th May, provides a framework for economic policy going forward that will build an innovative and inclusive economy. Engagement with a range of stakeholders was key in developing the Vision and determining the pathway to delivering benefits to all our people.

The structures to develop and monitor economic policy derived from the Vision, and the subsequent future work programme to fulfil its ambition, will be determined through co-design with an extensive range of key stakeholders. It is essential to take a partnership and collaboration based approach in developing economic policy and achieving our ambition of an economy which is ten times better than today.