Change needs to be delivered in practice in Invest NI - Murphy

He was speaking after the Department for the Economy published its action plan in response to the Independent Review of Invest Northern Ireland.

Whilst the Independent Review Panel acknowledged that “Invest NI should remain an Arm’s Length Body” and that the organisation has “strengths to be built upon”, it also concluded that there was “considerable room for improvement.”

To address the challenge set, more than 300 staff from across the Department and Invest NI worked collaboratively to understand the problems highlighted by the Review recommendations, before developing Strategic Actions to resolve them. 

Mr Murphy, who is the party's economy spokesperson said: "When Micheal Lyons published the review into Invest NI at the beginning of this year he said there was a need for 'profound change and reform' in the north's economic development agency.

"Sinn Féin has been clear there needs to be a greater focus on small and local businesses and on meaningfully delivering regional balance.

"We also need to see real ambition in building on the huge potential of the growing all-Ireland economy and our unique access to both the British and EU single markets.

"It is important this change is delivered in practice.

The Newry and Armagh MLA added: "We need the Executive to be formed immediately and new leadership of the economy department to take advantage of the economic opportunities available to us to create good jobs and attract investment."