A delegation from Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited Stormont in March to press for the implementation of proposals contained in the Bain Report. Alison Moore (Chamber President), Raymond Ruck (Vice President) and Audrey Wales met Olive Maybin, the lead official in the Department of Finance and Personnel. Olive Maybin reports directly to Minister Nigel Dodds. The meeting was facilitated by Ian Paisley Jnr. MLA.
After the meeting Alison Moore said “Chamber regard the Bain Report as very important to the economy of Ballymena. Sir George Bain was commissioned to examine the location of public sector jobs in Northern Ireland. The major conclusion of his report is that where new public sector jobs are being created they should not all automatically be located in Belfast. He identified six towns across Northern Ireland where some of these jobs should be located and Ballymena is one of the towns identified. We were here today and put forward very strong arguments in support of Ballymena”.
Alison continued “I would like to thank Ian Paisley Jnr. for his assistance in helping Chamber secure this meeting today. This was a very constructive meeting and I believe that Olive Maybin accepted many of our arguments. I was very surprised to learn that Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry were the first group to visit Stormont to lobby in support of the Bain Report. The Chamber will continue to lobby for the Borough of Ballymena at every opportunity”.
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