He was speaking after representatives of the Aerospace, Defence Security and Space Sector gave evidence to the Economy Committee today.
Mr Brett said, “During evidence to the Committee it was powerful to hear from a company such as Thales about the direct impact their products continue to have on the front-line in Ukraine. When the First Minister disgracefully criticised the use of those weapons, she was not only contradicting her own supposed support for Ukraine defending its borders. She was also talking down an important who have plans to add nearly 25% to their workforce over the next two years and open a third site in Northern Ireland.
"We have a responsibility as democratic leaders in this place to show leadership and not make up facts."@PhillipBrett21 pic.twitter.com/HbMgVDLRde
— DUP (@duponline) March 5, 2025
On top of that there was also an entirely baseless claim made during the same Question Time to the First Minister that Thales talking about “that company’s role in relation to Palestine”.
The firm made it clear today that Thales in Northern Ireland has no relation to and does not supply any products or systems used in that conflict. A needless comment made within the Assembly chamber only helped amplify rumour and nonsense spreading mainly online and may well have fuelled protests outside the company’s site in East Belfast.
The ADS sector in Northern Ireland is a major success story and one with plans to grow and develop even further. The DUP will continue to support this vital part of our economy, but it is testament to the skills, expertise and innovation of those companies themselves that they are not just operating but succeeding in an environment where they are doing this in spite of, not because of the words and actions of some political leaders.”