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You are here Home | Topics | Government
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October 22, 2005
Nuclear kite-flying?
The debate on if, or rather when, nuclear energy is to be seriously considered as an option has barely begun here in Ireland, but, arguably, there are signs that the UK government is much more convinced. In yesterday's Guardian, the UK government's chief scientific advisor, Sir David King, indicated that new nuclear power stations would have to be included in future energy production. [more] October 20, 2005
Review of planning permission for John Lewis
NIO minister Lord Rooker's decision, announced in June this year, to grant planning permission for the proposed retail superstore by John Lewis Partnerships at Sprucefield now faces a judicial review by the High Court following the decision by Mr Justice Girvan today. The planning permission announcement in June, opposed in the review by 6 groups including Belfast City Council, and the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, came after John Lewis threatened to abandon plans for their only retail development scheduled for 2006. October 07, 2005
House about that then...
I'VE reached the age where every time I phone home, my mother wants to know if I've bought a house yet - but where I want to be and what I can afford are two different things. In Belfast and elsewhere in NI, first-time buyers are being squeezed by the stratospheric rise in house prices. The Government's move to raise the stamp duty threshold was, let's face it, no more than tokenistic. Here's how Kevin McCauley of the BBC coped. Manufacturing consent... AFTER Ian Paisley's belated-but-welcome stand against the loyalist sectarian campaign of violence against Catholics in his constituency, it should be noted that there have been quite a number of attacks on Orange halls recently too. However, this attack seemed particularly cowardly, and while I know most republicans who detest the Order will nonetheless condemn these attacks, perhaps it goes some way to explaining why the DUP gained the political concession of de-rating for Orange halls, as the insurance is often prohibitive. There is some stick attached to the carrot - the financial incentive is contingent upon the halls being open to all the community. An opportunity for bridge-building? [more] October 05, 2005
Which mobile network to choose when you cross borders
For those of you who are overseas, or just frequent crossers of the border, this may help determine which mobile network you settle with. Let us know what you think of it as a useful guide?! September 29, 2005
Businesses want action not the Assembly
The inaugural Northern Ireland Business Monitor 2004-2005 has found that a whopping 77% of the 2,000 businesses surveyed felt that the Assembly suspension has had no effect on them. Only 16% said the suspension made their situation worse. However, the report suggests that "many businesses do not see local politicians as being adequately supportive of local businesses". [more] September 23, 2005
Northern Ireland autumn sale begins
Following on from Peter Hain's speech about Northern Ireland paying its way and moving resources to the frontline, the British government has announced plans to sell off almost all of its civil service buildings and then lease them back from their new owners. Apparently, the move will save 200 million in refurbishment costs. Stormont has been spared. [more] August 30, 2005
The trouble with Belfast...
For a time, Troubles Tourism (subs needed) did its fair share in attracting the world to its doors. However, according to the New York Times the weekend before last, it's not up to scratch for the modern tourist. The Belfast Telegraph took up the gauntlet with Mary FitzGerald's interview with Alan Clarke, head of Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Its leader went on to argue, that a multiplication in domestic flights into both Belfast airports requires movement beyond old strategies. [more] August 25, 2005
YR Sauce coming back to a store near you, soon!
Well, it's good news from Chivers Managing Director Liam O'Rourke, who's written to Slugger explaining the current hiatus in the 'food chain' in Northern Ireland. Pending a new distribution deal covering NI and Britain, you should be able to ask your local shop to order it! [more] August 18, 2005
Embarrassment for Rooker...
AS Labour is in thrall to the large supermarkets, Lord Rooker's arrogant and controversial decision to give the go-ahead to a John Lewis superstore at Sprucefield was perhaps unsurprising. Now it appears it may be coming back to haunt him already, as he announces the delay of planning policies until legal challenges to his decision have been dealt with. The NIO is reportedly split over the Minister's decision, which - given that the new retailing policies were in the immediate offing at the time it was taken - now seems premature. August 01, 2005
NI's curate egg economy...
The Observer notes that low unemployment, high consumer spending and rising house prices have all brought a feeling of well being to the NI economy. However, in the FT, John Murray Brown looks at some of the a underlying structural problems that remain to be tackled: [more] July 20, 2005
Very inward investment...
INVEST NI's aim is to "role is to change Northern Ireland into a high growth economy driven by innovation and enterprise". For Invest NI, that seems to include investing £4 million of your money in companies linked to the board members of Invest NI. Conflict of interest? No - apparently "the transactions "were all conducted at arms length" and "were subject to normal project and programme rules and tendering procedures, where appropriate"." Quite... [more] July 18, 2005
Invest NI right to target South Belfast?
Invest NI has come under fire from Sinn Fein and the SDLP, who say Invest NI's figures show that they intend to site nearly 30% of all its planned investment for this cycle in south Belfast, more than three times the combined investment for the seven more impoverished constituencies west of the Bann. They have been joined by the Federation of Small Businesses who have called for a meeting to discuss the "serious imbalances". [more] July 08, 2005
Poor timing for Republican protest?
Republican protesters against the re-arrest of Sean Kelly, the man convicted of planting the Shankill bomb, forced the Works and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett to cancel his attendence at the visit of 20 employment ministers from across the EU to the Springvale centre. However, Michael McGimpsey was scathing in his attack, accusing the protesters of apparently being unable to understand the impression it would give to the outside world: [more] July 07, 2005
Gaelic Telecom take on 40 new staff...
Gaelic Telecom is an interesting social/economic initiative. Set up to target GAA supports, it rebates 15% of the customer's bill to the club or county association of their choice. It's doing so well that they have just taken on another forty staff in their offices in Dublin. July 05, 2005
Making Violence Contemporary...
FOR once, it's politically-motivated violence in another part of the UK that's hitting the headlines, as protesters attempt to disrupt the G8 meeting at Gleneagles in Scotland. June 29, 2005
Somewhere... over the rainbow...
Irish Eagle swoops on Thomas L. Friedman's article in the NY Times - "The End of the Rainbow" - in which Friedman suggests a narrative for "How Ireland went from the sick man of Europe to the rich man in less than a generation.." I say suggests because, as Ciarán points out, as well as the dubious assessment of comparative wealth, there are other factors attracting the likes of Dell that are not specifically mentioned. John puts his narrative forward here and others have joined in the comments. June 22, 2005
O'Leary facing pilot's revolt?
Whatever you think of Michael O'Leary's free wheeling espousal of free market economics, many of us have found his Ryanair service is invaluable for getting around Europe at a decent price. However, it may it come at a price. Nearly all the airline's Irish based pilots are complaining of victimisation stemming from O'Leary's efforts to get them to accept repayment of "the €15,000 cost of their training if the airline was forced to deal with a trade union within the next five years". [more] June 21, 2005
But where were the other 931 delegates?
Following on from Mick's comment yesterday, on the lead the BBC takes in internet news compared to other news sources - "they've all a long way to catch up with the BBC".. *ahem*.. Today the BBC report on a brief stop-over in Belfast by delegates to the 2005 Annual Leadership Forum Conference, in London - Business leaders from around the world have visited Northern Ireland and been told it is a good place to do business... Hmm.. That's what they were told, but what was their response? [more] June 16, 2005
It's the social economy stupid...
Tom Kelly kicks of his Irish News column this week with a comparative analysis of the contrasting ways in which both parts of Ireland spent their respective windfalls from the European Union. [more] Republic attracts 20 times more investment than North The Irish Republic attracts 20 times more foreign investment than Northern Ireland, which has now just 26% of it's southern neighbour's economic value, down from 45% just 13 years ago, according to a report from Goodbody Stockbrokers, who conclude that a reduction in Northern Ireland's corporation tax rate would give a huge boost to the region's economy. [more] June 10, 2005
All-Ireland electricity market one step nearer
A single electricity market for the island of Ireland has moved a step closer with the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding by the Republic's ESB National Grid (ESBNG) and the System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI). [more] June 08, 2005
Low interest loans for farmers...
PART of my family farmed in the shadow of Slemish, so I was interested to learn of a new scheme that aims to help farmers rejuvenate their business in areas where agriculture has proved difficult. A welcome initiative, or staving off the inevitable? June 07, 2005
Lord Rooker's no brainer...
WRITING in the Irish News today, Paul McErlean strongly criticises Lord Rooker for his approval of the Sprucefield development. What, McErlean notes, was the whole point of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, years of economic planning and a long fight to protect both existing business and the environment, if an unelected, unaccountable New Labour yes-man can come in and overturn locally-made decisions (though to his credit, at least he made a quick decision)? Nevertheless, I agree with McErlean's final point: "One of the Lord’s triumphalist phrases at the press conference was that this decision was a ‘no brainer’. You’re right minister: no brains were applied to this decision." [more] I'll take mine neat, thanks The BBC hints at the real story behind the headline of Diageo agreeing to buy Bushmills from Pernod (which also owns Jameson), but sticks to quoting the official spokesmen and then wheels out the local MLA, Ian Paisley Jr, to talk about securing jobs and keeping the brand in Co. Antrim.. but the NY Times points directly to the reason why Pernod Ricard agreed to sell.. Diageo has agreed - in return for the sale of Bushmills and an option to buy Montana wines - to stand aside while Pernod Ricard buys up Allied Domecq. Update Added links [more] June 06, 2005
Is Rooker still not in the driving seat..?
ASDA - owned by town centre cleanser Wal-Mart - has bought 12 former Safeway stores in Northern Ireland. It promises to use locally-sourced produce - although the terms and conditions were not, of course, mentioned. Regardless, should Asda/Wal-Mart decide to expand into the green belt, it is unlikely to meet any opposition from NIO Minister Lord Rooker - who seems happy to ignore planning refusals recommended by local civil servants. [more] Asda wades into NI supermarket battle The Guardian reports that the second-biggest UK supermarket chain Asda, owned by US retail giant Wal-Mart, has agreed to buy 12 Safeway stores in Northern Ireland from WM Morrison for £73.6million - bringing Asda into direct competition here with current retail-sector leader Tesco. The 12 stores are at Ballyclare, Bangor, Coleraine, Cookstown, Dundonald, Enniskillen, Kilkeel, Newtonards, Omagh, Strabane and Shore Road and Westwood in Belfast. The standard statements have been made, June 03, 2005
NY Comptroller looking to invest in NI
Alan Hevesi, the New York State Comptroller in charge of it's $140 billion retirement fund, has been sending warm noises about investing in Northern Ireland. But he warned that it was not a case of charitable giving. He is also looking for a decent return on any financial committment. Jarlath Kearney grabbed an exclusive interview with him when he was in Belfast. June 01, 2005
Another view of that differential unemployment rate
If Andrew McCann has a key strength as a blogger, it's that he loves numbers. He devoured yesterday's story on high female Catholic unemployment rates with some gusto, and came out with a sound reasoning for the long term differentials. May 28, 2005
NI banks to be forced into competitive change
In an apparent culmination of an issue that's been ongoing for some time, the big four banks in Northern Ireland are to face a probe by the Competition Commission. This is not a trivial action. Eleanor Gill, chief executive of the Consumer Council: "A referral to the Competition Commission is the most serious action that the OFT can take against the banks. Clearly unwilling to change voluntarily, the big four will now be forced to change." Thanks to Tim for the heads up! |
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