An important difference of emphasis is worth noting between First Minister Peter Robinson addressing the Institute of Irish Bankers and Philip McDonagh of PWC as reported in the Irish News at the NI Economic Conference. Mr Robinson while recognising real difficulties,” tended to look backwards at old (relative) successes and look ahead on the (equally relative) bright side for future prospects.
Robinson: If we were to listen to some in the media we might have expected to come here tonight to be greeted by a scene similar to that on the deck of the Titanic with the band playing Nearer, My God, to Thee
. As a former Finance Minister I have learned to be cautious about what economists tell me. I am reminded that there are some economists who have predicted six of the last two recessions”…
McDonagh: “… rising energy and food costs and the ongoing credit squeeze were creating conditions for the perfect storm, which would change the economic landscape and pose new challenges for the region.”
On the key areas of housing and construction:
Robinson; “What we are looking at is a significant structural realignment in our housing market. Having average house prices at ten times the average salary is unsound and unsustainable. In the long term lower housing costs should actually benefit our economy.
Well, up to a point, for consumers and first time buyers. But tell that to sellers and housing investors, where the prospects are bleak.
McDonagh. Firms report that employment in house-building has fallen by 50 per cent in the last year. Bigger companies that specialise in infrastructure projects have also noticed a downturn in work.. They report that they expect to lay off half their workers by next summer. Two-thirds of these firms say they are already sending hundreds of workers to work on projects outside the north, mostly in Britain.
On employment, Mr Robinson looked back: Even during May to June of this year, quite remarkably, given the pattern of the last thirty years, our unemployment rate at 4.4% remained below the UK average and down from 7.3% a decade before. In fact Northern Ireland has created over 100,000 employee jobs in the last ten years. Mr McDonagh looking ahead to a rapid rise in unemployment (expected) to reach 6 per cent by the end of next year. That would mean an extra 10,000 people losing their jobs.
And he warned: targets set by the Stormont executive in the Programme for Government just a year ago are already looking outdated and unobtainable. While Mr Robinson kept sailing on course: The Assembly and Executive have already approved a three year programme for Government and Budget and a ten year investment strategy. In a four party executive encompassing the range of parties we have here this is no small achievement!
The differences mirror the contrast we noted on Monday between Michael Smyth of the University of Ulsters commenting that: Northern Ireland is in much better economic shape than it realises but is in danger of talking itself into a recession.
And Richard Ramsey, Northern Ireland economist with Ulster Bank, reporting that the number of new orders fell for a ninth consecutive month during August.
The contrasting assessments tend to reflect the differences in outlook between the public and private sector.
Note to DUP press office: please learn how to spell the Taoiseach’s surname. It helps communication to get it right.
Former BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London