The Northern Ireland economy is in its best shape for 30 years, the new Trade Minister Sir Reg Empey said yesterday.

The first figures released since devolution showed unemployment at 54,000 - 7.3 per cent - down 3,000 on a year ago.

During the same period, the number of people in work - 617,410 - was the highest on record.

He also announced he was throwing Belfast's troubled Harland & Wolff shipyard a cash life-line.

Sir Reg brought forward a £2.7 million sterling intervention aid grant to the yard to keep up its cash flow as it finishes the last two ships on its order book and searches for more work.

During his first official visit to the yard, he said it was vital the Executive did all it could to help Harland and Wolff win new orders from the oil, gas and shipbuilding industries.