The Department for the Economy and Invest NI have denied claims that Stormont funding may have been used in the construction of Israeli warplanes. Earlier this week, the Irish Independent reported that millions of pounds in Stormont funding was going towards fighter jets used by Israel in the war in the Middle East.
Invest NI provide funding to three Northern Irish based companies - RLC Engineering Group Ltd, Moyola Precision Engineering and Survitec, who manufacture parts and equipment for the F-35 fighter jets used by Israeli Defence Forces.
This prompted SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone to state that is unbelievable that Stormont funding could have supported the building of Israeli planes which caused destruction in Gaza.
Mr McGlone was told by the Economy Minister last year that that Invest NI was “not aware” of any companies manufacturing armaments used by the IDF.
Mid Ulster MLA Mr McGlone said: “When renewed conflict broke out in the Middle East in October 2023 people right around the world were horrified at the images of violence emanating from the region. As the conflict intensified, we saw much of Gaza reduced to rubble in indiscriminate bombing campaigns, with thousands losing their lives.
“Last year, I submitted a number of questions to the then Economy Minister to make sure that no public money was being used, inadvertently or otherwise, to support the manufacturing of armaments being used by the IDF in Gaza. I was assured that Invest NI was not aware of any companies that were being supported in this way.
“It has now come to light that Invest NI supports a number of companies involved in the manufacturing of parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel in the bombing campaigns that have killed innocent civilians and razed Gaza to the ground. It cannot be ruled out that funding from the North helped pay for these jets.
“This raises serious questions for the previous and current Minister, the department and Invest NI. People across the North will be rightly outraged to learn that public funding could have been used to arm Israel and we have a right to transparency when it comes to how our money is spent. For the department and Invest NI to claim they did not know about this isn’t good enough and can’t be used as an excuse.”
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said that Executive parties have serious questions to answer about Invest NI’s connection to Israel.
"I have submitted multiple written questions to the First and deputy First Ministers and Economy Minister over the past several months, including on the use of Belfast International Airport by US military aircraft. Each time, they evade accountability by claiming that these matters are not devolved," he said.
"Invest NI is a public body. It’s unfathomable that the Executive can deny responsibility for handing over almost £20 million of public money to companies creating parts and equipment for machines of war.
"We blame those company directors and chief executives who invest in the industry of death and destruction in order to maximise profit - not the workers who are forced to sell their labour to companies with questionable motives.
"The public has a right to know whether their money is being used to support the Israeli air force and its war on Palestinians. Until the Executive answers these basic questions, it can be assumed they are happy for Israel to continue its ethnic cleansing of Palestinains."
When asked by Belfast Live why Mr McGlone had been informed by the Economy Minister that Invest NI were "not aware" of any companies it supports manufacturing armaments used by the IDF, a Department for the Economy spokesperson said: “Invest NI does not support projects that supply arms to Israel.”
An Invest NI spokesperson added: "Invest NI does not support projects that supply arms to Israel."
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