Economy – Page 62 – Slugger O'Toole

“is it effectively now a two party government?”

Pete Baker on December 16, 2008, 1:41 am

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If you didn’t know there was a “little bit of a game” being played within, and without, the semi-detached polit-bureau Northern Ireland Executive, the evidence was on Stormont Live today. Ostensibly on the re-packaging re-profiling of NI Executive funds announced by the Finance Minister, the DUP’s Nigel Dodds, the opening interview with his party colleague NI First Minister, Peter Robinson, revealed clear tensions within the Executive – and the “first-class press” are being unhelpful witnesses distracted from the “good news” …

About that recall of Irish pork you announced..

Pete Baker on December 15, 2008, 5:00 am

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According to a RTÉ report Northern Ireland Ministers are to seek access for Northern Irish companies to the Republic of Ireland’s €180m contingency fund “to cover costs arising from the recall of pig meat following the dioxin contamination”, announced last week. From the RTÉ report Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector is to seek compensation for costs incurred during the contaminated pork crisis. Two Stormont ministers, Arlene Foster and Michelle Gildernew, hope to hold discussions with their counterparts in the Republic this …

“With every passing day, this Armageddon gets closer.”

Pete Baker on December 14, 2008, 6:15 pm

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RTÉ reports that the Irish government plans a new economic recovery plan for the New Year [it’ll all be over by Christmas? – Ed]. But the Sunday Business Post has a couple of articles worth considering. First up there’s a report on the ongoing discussions on the recapitalisation of the banks, and the disagreements over who needs what, whilst David McWilliams argues that the market’s growing realisation of the default risk of the state, as opposed to the banks, means …

“We did not want to overreact, but, equally, we did not want to under-react..”

Pete Baker on December 11, 2008, 7:59 pm

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In the Belfast Telegraph David Gordon charts the timeline of the weekend breakdown of communication north, south, east and west over the Irish pork dioxin alert. To recap, the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture were told of potential problems on Friday, the Minister of Agriculture on Saturday and the Minister for Health on Sunday.. when he checked his messages.. and the all-clear [for Northern Irish pork] arrived on Monday. Meanwhile Sinn Féin’s Pat Doherty looks to blame the Belfast offices …

“Northern Ireland pork is safe to eat..”

Pete Baker on December 9, 2008, 4:29 pm

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There is, finally, some clarity emerging on question over whether Northern Irish pork is contaminated in the Irish pork dioxins alert. According to the BBC report, The [UKs Food Standards Agency] said it was confident no pigs had been fed contaminated feed. “We are quite happy that Northern Ireland pigs are free from the contamination,” the FSA’s Maria Jennings said. “We’re quite happy for processors to start processing as soon as they possibly can.” Although the report also notes that …

“but we were not expecting the results until Monday..”

Pete Baker on December 9, 2008, 1:30 am

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The reported statements in the Assembly today from the Northern Ireland Health Minister, the UUP’s Michael McGimpsey, and the Agriculture Minister, Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew, on the Irish pork dioxins alert are not much more than holding statements and the advice from the UKs Food Standards Agency remains essentially the same. But given that the first official comment in Northern Ireland came yesterday, Sunday 7th Dec, 24 hours after the alert notice was issued by the Republic of Ireland’s Food …

“Scottish rashers off the menu..”

Pete Baker on December 8, 2008, 9:33 pm

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This morning Mark Devenport noted the tale of the tartan rashers in the Assembly canteen. But by this afternoon everything had changed.. utterly.. The Stormont bacon butties saga is a fast moving story. This morning diners were tucking into their rashers safe in the knowledge that they came from across the Irish Sea. This afternoon the BBC was about to interview the canteen chef about an award they have won for their catering operation. However we had to pull our …

“recall from the market all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland..”

Pete Baker on December 7, 2008, 2:33 am

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As several reports note, the Republic of Ireland’s Food Safety Authority has ordered the withdrawal and recall of all Irish pork products dating back to 1 September. RTÉ report here It follows the discovery of a contaminant in pig feed by a dioxin known as PCB at levels between 80 and 200 times the safe limits. PCBs are highly dangerous man-made chemicals that were banned in 1979. They effect the immune and reproductive systems and can, in certain cases, cause …

“This survey proves that not only are consumers saving no money..”

Pete Baker on December 5, 2008, 9:17 pm

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According to the report in the Irish Times, a group representing family-owned grocery stores in Ireland is lobbying for “urgent government action” and the Irish Farmers’ Association’s patriotic campaign continues, as they attempt to convince shoppers in Ireland that “the cost of shopping in the North is much dearer for people living in the Republic when the costs of travel and subsistence are taken into account.” Not according to the shoppers the Belfast Telegraph reporter talked to.. As Conor Pope …

“sacking civil servants is the work of a generation..”

Pete Baker on December 5, 2008, 4:05 pm

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Another clip from last night’s Hearts and Minds. Newton Emerson takes aim at Northern Ireland’s public sector waste and inefficiency, whilst Ian Knox provides the illustrations. Pete Baker

“carefully crafted [rhetoric] on an Olympian scale..”

Pete Baker on December 5, 2008, 2:04 am

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From tonight’s Hearts and Minds, Noel Thompson’s conversation with European correspondent Chris Mason expands significantly on Mark Mardell’s thoughts on the options available for Ireland, and Taoiseach Brian Cowen, in Europe. Pete Baker

“designed to increase MLA pay to 75% of the salary of an MP”

Pete Baker on December 4, 2008, 6:48 pm

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BBC political editor Mark Devenport has a report [and a blog post – Ed] on the Senior Salaries Review Body’s recommendations on MLA salaries and expenses and read the somewhat different emphasis in David Gordon’s report too. [new link] Or you can read the actual report [pdf file]. From the Belfast Telegraph Assembly members currently receive £43,381 a year — some 70% of an MP’s salary. The SSRB concluded that this should be gradually raised to 75% of the Commons …

“Used to be Boomtown, now it’s just a ruined town…”

Mick Fealty on December 3, 2008, 4:54 pm

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Great satire for Bertie, Fianna Fail etc… play it in high quality… very good… Thanks to Red Mum for the heads up… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

“people have to make sacrifices for the greater good..”

Pete Baker on December 3, 2008, 4:42 pm

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RTÉ reports on Republic of Ireland Minister of Finance Brian Lenihan’s comments on Morning Ireland [RealPlayer file] Speaking on RTÉ Morning Ireland following yesterday’s Exchequer figures which showed a tax shortfall this year of €8bn, he said that a reduction in our living standards is required [in Ireland]. However, Minister Lenihan said he does not believe that there will be a mini-Budget in the spring and that there is ‘little scope’ for tax increases next year. He said there will …

Policing budget balanced.. for now..

Pete Baker on December 3, 2008, 1:16 am

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Neither the Policing Board Chairman, Desmond Rea, nor the Northern Ireland Justice Minister Paul Goggins, MP, revealed much any detail of their agreed “way forward” for the Chief Constable to balance the £24.5million deficit in this year’s policing budget [Nor did Sinn Féin’s Daithi McKay – Ed]. But Ian Paisley Jnr does.. UTV Live mentioned it at 6pm and the BBC report confirms that detail The police have agreed to delay projects costing £15m until next year, and the policing …

Confusion over what Ireland really is, and what it once was…

Mick Fealty on December 2, 2008, 6:24 pm

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Gavin points to a graph that tells the awful truth about the Irish Republic’s housing market… Elsewhere the same site records An estimated 4,239,848 people live in Ireland… Yep, it seems we have quite disappeared from sight and mind… No wait, “In 1841, before the famine, the population peaked at 8 million…” Some creative accountancy there. Come on guys, make your minds up and stick with it!! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the …

“open for business” – redux

Pete Baker on December 2, 2008, 5:04 pm

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A short video clip from yesterday’s Stormont Live where Jim Fitzpatrick and Mark Devenport discuss “our very own lycanthropes” the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers’ trip to the US.. where they do, indeed, appear to be “drawing a discreet veil over that” recent little local difficulty.. [Open for business, again? – Ed] From the BBC report Speaking to dinner guests from some of the largest and most profitable companies in the US, Mr McGuinness said Northern Ireland had …

Even the Republic’s retailers are heading north…

Mick Fealty on December 1, 2008, 4:48 pm

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For many years the border has cast a gloomy economic shadow by turns on either side. For a long time, towns on the northern side of the border have suffered economically. Letterkenny prospered at Derry’s expense. And Dundalk at Newry’s. In fact the shoe has been on the other foot for some time now, but it has only recently become a major issue in the Republic since the global credit crunch has fouled up the steady flow of FDI, and …

“We aren’t just having the meeting in Washington..”

Pete Baker on December 1, 2008, 3:22 am

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Having come to a new “indigenous” arrangement, whereby Sinn Féin quit claiming they have invisible commitments to a deadline for devolving policing and justice powers, and the Northern Ireland Executive resumes business while they and the DUP work towards building the necessary public confidence in the ability of the NI Executive to handle those powers responsibly, “Even if there are setbacks in the months to come..”, the First and deputy First Ministers have now absconded to the US.. where they, …

“this triumvirate of party aristocrats..”

Pete Baker on November 30, 2008, 9:04 pm

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From today’s Politics Show, Jim Fitzpatrick introduces Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison’s regular short report on the political fortunes of Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Fianna Fáil, noting the “triumvirate of party aristocrats” in whose hands power now lies in Ireland. Pete Baker