However, a solicitor acting in judicial review proceedings against the Department of the Economy and Invest NI noted an admission in the report that Invest NI cannot fully track components once they enter “complex supply chains”.
The review covered 93 projects, across 20 Invest NI programmes.
It followed reports that Invest NI has given around £20m to companies with operations in Northern Ireland that manufacture components for the F-35 combat aircraft.
Invest NI’s review focused on companies that received a Letter of Offer from Invest NI on or after Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and whether companies exported “directly to Israel”.
The internal review said funding could be provided “for eligible activities, such as R&D costs, skills development, energy efficiency, job creation etc”.
Approval papers for projects “which meet the criteria identified within the scope” of the review were examined to “determine if the projects resulted in Invest NI providing financial support towards the manufacture of weapons and/or military components which were supplied directly to Israel”.
F-35 jets from the Royal Air Force and the US air force flew together for the first time during Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK (Jacob King/PA)
In its conclusions, Invest NI said it “can assure the Minister, it does not support projects that provide arms to Israel.”
However, in its report, Invest NI admitted: “It is not possible for Invest NI or its client companies to fully track or determine the final destination of exported goods once they enter complex global supply chains.
“Over the lifecycle of a product, client companies may engage with multiple customers and export destinations, which can evolve over time. Nevertheless, there are safeguards embedded within the broader UK Government system to ensure that products are not supplied to destinations where they should not be.”
In communications obtained by this newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act, there was an admission in December 2024 – more than a year into the current phase of the Israel-Palestine conflict – from Invest NI itself that “NI has a number of companies in the supply chain supplying components to larger businesses that may ultimately end up in Israel”.
Investigative news website, The Detail, previously reported how Martin Butcher, Oxfam’s policy adviser on arms and conflict, said that the unique set-up of the F-35 programme means it is “absolutely” the case that parts produced in the UK – including Northern Ireland – would end up in Israeli jets.
But Invest NI’s review states that it has “confirmed that no project supported by Invest NI was for the purpose of supporting the manufacture of arms or their components, for supply to Israel.”
Invest NI was previously asked about the deliberate wording of its statements – which refer to providing funding for ‘projects’ rather than ‘companies’ – and whether that means it still provided public money to companies who manufacture components for F-35s, and if those components may end up in Israel through the wider supply chain.
It did not respond to clarify.
Welcoming the report, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “The British Government carries primary responsibility for ending arms sales to Israel.
“However all of us in wider society have a moral duty to do what we can to end the illegal occupation of Palestine, the imposition of apartheid, and the arming of genocide.”
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald
She added: “As Economy Minister I have oversight of Invest NI. Invest NI has provided an assurance that it does not support projects that manufacture arms or their components for supply to Israel.
“I asked Invest NI to review its investments to make sure that this is the case. The review is categorical – Invest NI does not support the manufacture of arms or their components for Israel. I welcome this finding.
“I have also instructed my officials to prepare additional measures to eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide.”
At present, Madden & Finucane Solicitors is acting in judicial review proceedings against the Department for the Economy and Invest NI over funding for companies directly involved in the F-35 supply chain, jets that may be used in Gaza.
In response to the Minister’s statement, Michael Madden, of Madden & Finucane, said: “Despite the Minister stating that Invest NI does not support the manufacture of arms or their components for Israel, it is clear from information obtained by our client that Invest NI funds may have been used to create parts for F-35 fighter jets which have been used to drop bombs in Gaza during the recent genocide.
“Today’s report found that it is not possible for Invest NI or its client companies to fully track or determine the final destination of exported goods once they enter complex supply chains. The inability to track components is highly concerning when the components may have been used to commit serious humanitarian crimes.”
Solicitor Michael Madden
Their client, Cassidy Ferrari, who is a member of Cairde Palestine added: “It is not good enough for the government to hide behind the excuse of complex supply chains when components end up in F-35 fighter jets that drop bombs and kill thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza.
“The Minister should commit to an immediate end to funding for any project that could result in components ending up in weapons used by the Israeli Defence Forces. Any public funds that may have been used in this way should be clawed back to be used instead to alleviate local issues, such as health and housing.”
The Act Now campaign group, which has uncovered documents detailing connections between NI companies and F-35s, said: “The review appears to leave key questions unanswered.
“Nowhere in the review does it address the central plank of Act Now’s member-funded ‘Invest NI, F-35’s and Israel: Public Money for War Crimes? report – whether or not public money was provided to support the manufacture of F-35 jets, used by Israel in the genocide in Palestine, and whether due diligence was undertaken on the NI-based companies that Invest NI knew were involved in the F-35 programme after Israel’s bombing campaign commenced.”
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