Jobs boost for Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster

PUBS of Ulster are to meet Enterprise and Jobs Minister Arlene Foster on Tuesday evening to discuss the cost of protests to the licensed industry in Northern Ireland.

The pub umbrella group said the ongoing protests are having a serious knock-on effect on licensees and their business.

It said one member lost £95,000 in trade before Christmas and a further £60,000 since.

On Friday night, 4,000 people attended protests across Northern Ireland over the Union flag dispute as part of ‘Operation Standstill’.

However, a separate ‘Operation Sit-in’ was organised for the same night over social media networks urging people to support pubs and restaurants by staying behind after work to avoid being stuck in traffic jams.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) already estimates that the flag dispute has cost Belfast businesses £15 million in lost revenue.