Economy – Page 50 – Slugger O'Toole

“The recent Ard Fheis motion on bloodsports and constant ‘rights talk’..”

Pete Baker on July 11, 2009, 1:02 am

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Over at the Cedar Lounge Revolution, Garibaldy has been examining a recent article in An Phoblacht by unsuccessful EU candidate, Sinn Féin’s Toiréasa Ferris. From An Phoblacht. Remember the passion, the self-confidence, the enthusiasm there was in Sinn Féin at the time many of us joined? We need to get back that self-belief. We need to set a clear direction for the party in the 26 Counties so we know exactly what we are fighting for. We cannot continue to …

“It isn’t that we’re hugely concerned..”

Pete Baker on July 9, 2009, 2:24 am

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An odd iol report records Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA, repeating what he was told at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting on Monday. There’s an associated Sinn Féin press statement. And this from the iol report Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said his party had called the meeting with Mr Cowen to help keep a focus on political developments in the North during the economic crisis. But he insisted they weren’t overly worried the …

“certain accounting and other powers may have to be left with the treasury..”

Pete Baker on July 8, 2009, 9:12 pm

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In the Irish Times Frank Millar has some further information on what the Northern Ireland First Minister, the DUP’s Peter Robinson, proposes to do about the devolution of policing and justice powers – after the NI Executive is “shown” draft legislation, as mentioned here. Including this interesting suggestion. Speaking after talks with British prime minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street yesterday, Mr Robinson warned that substantial funding issues – a shortfall which the DUP leader estimates at around £600 million …

Cowen ducks Dail debate on his economic plans for second year running…

Mick Fealty on July 8, 2009, 6:26 pm

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This is a longish clip from Leader’s Questions in the Dail this morning, but it’s worth listening the whole way through. For weeks Kenny and Gilmore have been trying to wheedle out the Taoiseach a date for the emergence of two major reports: a detailed outline of the Government’s new ‘toxic bank’, aka the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA), and the McCarthy Committee report, aka ‘An Bord Snip Nua’; which was due to report by the end of last month …

“Maverick” McGimpsey unites DUP and Sinn Féin

Pete Baker on July 7, 2009, 11:15 pm

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The results of the delayed June budget monitoring round were announced today in a special sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The new NI Finance Minister, the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, has a statement here and more details here. Apparently there was over £210million to redistribute, or is that £235million? Not that you’ll find the £210million figure, from the departmental statement, in the NI Finance Minister’s actual statement to the Assembly [pdf file] which notes that “some departments have breached the …

NI First Minister to meet Gordon Brown

Pete Baker on July 7, 2009, 3:18 pm

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The impact on the property market of the apparently to be co-ordinated disposal of assets by NAMA will be of particular concern to investors in the illegally operating Presbyterian Mutual Society. According to the Belfast Telegraph report, disposing of PMS assets at current market values would result in a loss of £50million. Meanwhile the Irish Times reports that Northern Ireland First Minister, the DUP’s Peter Robinson, is to meet “Prime Minister Gordon Brown today for talks in London about the …

North-South Ministerial Council meets today

Pete Baker on July 6, 2009, 3:09 pm

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Apparently the North-South Ministerial Council meets today with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers in attendance and economic issues on the agenda. According to Irish Times report Mr Cowen said that the meeting would be an opportunity to review the excellent progress already made. “It will enable us to focus ever more keenly on the future benefits to be attained by working together on a cross-Border basis.” It’s not clear whether [Irish] chicken will …

“a somewhat more moral position”

Pete Baker on July 2, 2009, 6:38 pm

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Eamonn McCann’s opposition to the presence in Londonderry of US-based company Raytheon has seen him in court previously, where he was acquitted of criminal damage. But he has taken a more measured approach in the Belfast Telegraph today. Starting with the recently released notes by then DETI minister Ian Pearson of a meeting between Raytheon management and the SDLP’s John Hume, he looks at the complicated relationship both the SDLP and Sinn Féin have had with the company – epitomised …

“The Executive appears to be paralysed on this issue.”

Pete Baker on July 1, 2009, 8:39 pm

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The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly Regional Development Committee, the UUP’s Fred Cobain, had previously criticised the relevant NI Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy, after his unilateral declaration of intent to defer new water charges for a further three years. That was in April. In the Belfast Telegraph today Fred Cobain describes the issue as “a ticking time-bomb” that the dysfunctional NI Executive has, to date, failed to address. And the cost of a further deferral? Up to £2billion. …

County Armagh brothers surrender £5.7million of assets

Pete Baker on July 1, 2009, 5:34 pm

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Three County Armagh brothers, who had £8.2million worth of assets seized in 2007, have agreed to surrender property and other assets worth £5.7million to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). From the BBC report. Soca said that the men had made millions from years of cross-border fuel smuggling. The assets they handed over include 12 homes in Belfast and south Armagh, three offices and building land both in NI and in the Republic of Ireland. Monies totalling more than £870,000 …

“Just a bit of politics”?

Pete Baker on June 30, 2009, 6:51 pm

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The breach of Executive confidentiality yesterday by the Northern Ireland Minister for Employment and Learning, the UUP’s Reg Empey, and his description of the dysfunctional NI Executive being “run like a huckster’s shop”, wasn’t deemed sufficiently newsworthy to be mentioned on the main BBC NI news [Newsline]. And, as noted yesterday, although it got plenty of radio coverage, there was a considerable delay in it being reported online. Was that something to do with NI Finance Minister, the DUP’s Nigel …

“Let’s see what happens..”

Pete Baker on June 30, 2009, 4:43 pm

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As Brian said, the reported meeting in Downing St is one to watch during the day. Whether or not, as Noel McAdam’s anonymous sources claim, it’s a “crisis” or, as his Downing St source says, it’s “routine, stock-taking”, there’s certainly confusion about the meeting. Below the fold Martina Purdy looks ahead at the big question for the autumn, what do we do about the transfer of policing and justice powers? And what will we do about the bill? Here’s what …

“I am disappointed at the discriminatory attitude of the IFA to this issue.”

Pete Baker on June 29, 2009, 10:13 pm

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Previously Sinn Féin had called on the Irish Farmers’ Association “to reconsider their partitionist and negative position”, after the IFA had criticised the Irish Government for awarding a €350,000 contract to a non Bord Bia Assured chicken processing company outside the Republic [Crossgar Poultry]. Today the Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister, Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew, has accused the IFA of having a “discriminatory attitude” and has said that “[she] will be contacting Minister O’Dea to clarify his position on this matter …

Ballymena Advice Centre Ltd makes a profit

Pete Baker on June 29, 2009, 4:17 pm

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Apparently the DUP’s Ian Paisley Jnr faces “financial ruin” over his legal bills.. But perhaps he can have a second career as a property developer? As David Gordon reports in the Belfast Telegraph, the company named as the owner of his Ballymena offices – Sarcon 250 the Ballymena Advice Centre Ltd – has made a profit [£3,857]! Which is odd. Given that Ian Paisley Jnr has previously stated, in relation to the £57,200 p.a. in public funds that he and …

Northern Ireland’s Green New Deal?

Pete Baker on June 29, 2009, 12:30 am

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There’s an intriguing coalition of groups behind the proposed Green New Deal for Northern Ireland. Although I can’t tell if they’re connected to this group. The briefing documents at the Friends of the Earth website [pdf file] lists those involved as – Bryson Charitable Group, Chamber of Commerce, CBI, Energy Savings Trust, Friends of the Earth, Institute of Directors, ICTU, NICVA, NI Environment Link, NI Federation of Housing Associations, NI Manufacturing, Sustainable Development Commission, Translink, and the Ulster Farmers Union. …

John Hume and Raytheon’s dodgy comms strategy…

Mick Fealty on June 26, 2009, 6:19 pm

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Nice piece of FOI work by the Londonderry Sentinel, which has the notes by then DETI minister Ian Pearson on John Hume’s view re bringing the controversial (and loss making) Raytheon plant to Derry: “He would like the company to emphasise that its software helps to protect people (whether through having good air traffic controls systems or in radar work etc), not kill people. In addition, he suggested that in describing the work in a public arena reference should be …

Sshh.. don’t tell anyone..

Pete Baker on June 26, 2009, 12:26 am

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Announcing the signing of a contract to build four new schools previously, the fact that it is being financed through a Public Private Partnership was relegated to the ‘Notes to Editors’ in the official statement by the Northern Ireland Edcuation Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitríona Ruane. Yesterday the NI Education Minister “cut the first sod” on “the site of the new £3.5million accommodation” of one of those schools, St Mary’s Primary School, Portglenone. This time there’s not even a ‘note to …

“Ireland is undergoing a painful adjustment as critical internal imbalances unwind.”

Pete Baker on June 25, 2009, 3:41 pm

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It’s still more art than science, but the IMF have issued a Public Information Notice [PIN] on Ireland’s economic fortunes – IMF staff report here [pdf file]. Whilst in the Irish Times, and on RTÉ, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is accentuating the positive, the BBC report highlights the less than positive aspects – the Irish Times summarises the report here. A non-economist looks at the report, and an economist picks out a couple of points of interest on institutional reform. …

“That is some bill..”

Pete Baker on June 23, 2009, 7:17 pm

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Apparently the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive Review Committee have been told by an independent think-tank that the NI Executive face a shortfall in funding for policing and justice of “more than £600million” – if those powers are to be devolved. Earlier this year, some of that bill was acknowledged by the NI Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward, MP, as being the responsibility of the UK government. Of course, MI5’s bill remains an un-devolved matter. According to Mark Devenport in …

Belfast City Council says No to incinerator.. again

Pete Baker on June 22, 2009, 10:15 pm

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UTV Live are reporting that Belfast City Council have voted against the proposed modern waste incinerator on the Belfast Lough foreshore by 26 votes to 19. For the want of a flag.. Adds Apparently they also voted 23-21 in favour of allowing the building of an associated mechanical biological centre at the site. But whether that goes ahead without the required incinerator is another matter. Update According to the Irish Times report. In the second vote yesterday evening, councillors voted …