Commenting on the Department for Infrastructure’s decisions to grant planning permission for the Belfast Power Station and the cruise terminal at Belfast Harbour, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), said:

“Following last week’s decision to grant planning permission for the Belfast Transport Hub, the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Infrastructure must be commended again for making these two further decisions.

“At over £300m, the Belfast Power Station project is of significant strategic importance not only for Northern Ireland’s electricity infrastructure, but also for the economy in terms of the amount of jobs that will be created during its construction and again whilst operational.

“With luxury liners worth £15m a year to the local economy, the new multi-purpose facility for berthing of cruise ships at Belfast Harbour will help deal with Northern Ireland’s surge in visitor numbers.

“All eyes will now turn to other projects, such as major roads and the North-South Interconnector, to advance in as equally a speedy manner.

“The recent powers handed to Permanent Secretaries by the Secretary of State has now delivered three major decisions, however the existence of this legislation itself is a reminder of why we still need an Executive up and running.”