Lack of Stormont Executive 'an extra challenege' in Bombardier trade dispute
The absence of a functioning government in Northern Ireland is an added challenge for those trying to protect jobs at Bombardier's Belfast factory, MPs have heard.
A trade dispute between the aircraft manufacturer and rivals Boeing has caused uncertainty for thousands of workers at the plant.
In evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Eugene Rooney, from the Department of the Economy, said: "It's a challenging situation for officers to be working in the absence of ministers, absolutely."
Mr Rooney was among three senior civil servants quizzed about the impact of the political impasse during a lengthy session at Stormont's Parliament Buildings.
He added: "Clearly local ministers would be much more involved because they are closer to the day-to-day issues that arise at the company.
"But we are trying to make sure our relations are good with the UK departments."
Earlier this month representatives from the Unite union expressed disappointment that senior political figures had not travelled to Washington to plead the case for Belfast.
Mr Rooney said: "The lobbying at a UK level is being led by the relevant UK departments and the Prime Minister has been involved.
"We will be making sure that we are keeping in good contact with the company locally and will be providing any information to help with what they are doing."
In September, the US Department of Commence (DoC) announced its intention to impose trade tariffs of 220% on Canadian-based Bombardier's C Series jets, after Boeing claimed the firm had received excessive government support which gave an unfair business advantage in breach of trading regulations.
A further 80% tariff was proposed in October, raising concerns that job cuts could follow at the Belfast site.
A final ruling is expected in the new year.
The committee also heard how DoC lawyers visited the offices of Invest Northern Ireland in October to trawl through records of financial assistance provided to Bombardier over the past decade.
"They looked at absolutely every penny we provided to Bombardier," said Jeremy Fitch, a senior director with Invest NI, adding that the complaint could be interpreted as a compliment for Bombardier and the C Series.
"They have handed the greatest back-handed compliment because they see the C Series as a threat," he said.
Northern Ireland has been without an executive at Stormont since January, when powersharing between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein collapsed.
Since then, there have been numerous rounds of negotiations with a view to returning to government but no deal has been reached. The parties remain at odds over a number of issues related to language and cultural issues.
DUP MP Ian Paisley, who described the trade dispute as a "commercial war", said it was also regrettable there was no first or deputy first minister in place at Stormont.
He said: "If there was a normal functioning Executive then they would be on the first plane out of Aldergrove to New York and down to Washington to fly the flag for Northern Ireland.
"That has been noticed by its absence."
After the meeting MPs were taken on a tour of the nearby Bombardier plant.
