Derry City and Strabane District Council councillors expressed strong opposition to potential defence sector investments during an April Business and Culture Committee meeting. People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin stated Invest NI lacks a moral compass for pursuing such opportunities. Independent councillor Gary Donnelly called the approach off base.

Invest NI CEO Kieran Donoghue reported 192 clients in Derry City and Strabane and Causeway Coast and Glens areas employing 11,737 people. Of these, 95 clients operate in Derry and Strabane. He noted this falls short and staff are engaging foreign multinationals to highlight North West capabilities.

For 2024/25, Invest NI secured 236 investments in the North West worth £165 million and creating 309 jobs. Donoghue confirmed defence as a growth area due to global developments, including a UK government defence growth deal naming Northern Ireland as a participant. He specified focus on dual-use technologies like drones, radar, sonar and related software applicable to civilian or defence markets.

UUP alderman Derek Hussey inquired about defence pursuits linked to conflicts such as the US/Israel-Iran war. Donoghue affirmed an existing aerospace defence and security team manages client relationships. He clarified only one of 3,000 clients engages in pure defence work.

SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid rejected defence investments outright. Harkin cited local history of British Army shootings and recent Gaza events as reasons to avoid profiting from defence. Donnelly referenced past protests against Raytheon in the city.