A lower rate of corporation tax could produce "in the region of 50,000 jobs" over a relatively short period, the enterprise minister said, on 13 October 2014.

Arlene Foster was replying to a question from the SDLP's Patsy McGlone on the possible results of a 12.5% corporation tax rate.

Sydney Anderson of the DUP wanted to know how many jobs had been created by inward investment recently.

The minister said that 1,200 jobs had been created by new inward investors in the past six months.

Asked about the recently-announced job losses at JTI Gallaher in Ballymena, Mrs Foster said that workers would be affected in a circle right across the north-east of Northern Ireland.

"There are many companies that rely on JTI Gallaher for their businesses," she said.

The minister said Enterprise Department officials would be "going up to Ballymena" soon, and a "skills audit" would be at the top of the agenda.

Gordon Dunne of the DUP asked the environment minister about reports of increases in rates due to the merger of councils with varying levels of rates.

"I did, indeed, see the scare stories," Mark H Durkan replied.

He outlined some of the measures taken to ameliorate the effects of rates convergence, and agreed it was important that these efforts should be more widely publicised.

Mr Durkan also answered questions about road deaths, and rural planning.