Arlene Foster 'very taken' by idea of giving £100 prepaid Mastercard to everyone

She said the idea, which is being implemented in the Channel Islands, was raised at a recent meeting of the British Irish Council.

Speaking in the Assembly this morning she said: "I was very taken, I have to say, by a proposal that is happening in Jersey, where they have given, and I do accept that Jersey has a much smaller population than some of the administrations Mr. Speaker, but Jersey have a scheme where they give all of their citizens a £100 prepaid Mastercard. You can't spend it online. You have to spend it locally in your shops and restaurants and that was there to boost the local economy."

Mrs. Foster said the Economy Minister Diane Dodds has been looking at voucher schemes for the hospitality and tourism sectors in particular.

"It is good to hear of schemes and ideas that are working across different administrations and to learn and adapt those perhaps to introduce here in Northern Ireland," she remarked.