To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) whether the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington ,DC, has any direction over Invest NI offices on the west coast of the United States; and (ii) to detail the cooperation between the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington, DC, and these Invest NI offices.

Whilst they work closely together, the Washington Bureau has no role in directing the Invest NI offices on the west coast of the United States.

The Bureau collaborates closely with Invest NI at senior level in the US. The Executive Vice President is now based in New York and previously in Boston. Much of the collaboration on projects involving the Bureau takes place on the east coast. There is occasional engagement with individual offices, for example in passing on potentially valuable connections made or in shaping visits.