O'Neill questions need for £50m NI defence sector investment

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has questioned the need for a £50m government investment in Northern Ireland's defence sector.

She said the money "could have been better spent" .

"I would prefer if the £50m was invested in a different way," she said.

But the first minister denied she was turning her nose up at the jobs being created as part of an investment announced on Wednesday by Defence Minister Luke Pollard.

"I want to create employment here," she said.

"It is at the heart of our economic policy, growing jobs."

The Northern Ireland Defence Growth deal, launched by the UK government, will result in extra money being invested in tech companies and start ups.

It is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence, local companies and Queen's University Belfast and is also aimed at helping students develop skills in engineering and technology.

O'Neill was criticised by unionists for failing to attend the launch of the new Growth Deal in Belfast.

At the time, the first minister was engaged in a series of media interviews ahead of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Belfast at the weekend.

"I don't agree with this policy choice in London - choosing weapons of war over people and investing in people - but I do not blame any company here for wanting to have their share or creating jobs or employment," she said.

The first minister also challenged the findings of a Treasury report which suggested the Stormont Executive could raise more than £3bn every year through revenue raising and cutting the size of the public sector.

The open book review of Stormont's finances was conducted after the Executive overspent by £400m last year.

O'Neill said the findings were "lazy" and lacked any proper scrutiny.

She said the focus should remain on the underfunding of Northern Ireland compared to other parts of the UK.

She suggested that if Northern Ireland had the same funding model as Wales and Scotland it would receive an extra £1.1bn and £3bn respectively to spend on public services.

The first minister added the Executive was united in seeking to secure extra funding from the UK government and was hopeful the Treasury would step up.

A spokesperson for the Treasury said the report "was developed by HM Treasury in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance, at pace and using NIE data.

"The government is clear that the Executive needs to come forward with a detailed plan for how they will manage their finances and move towards sustainability."