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 …
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.But then Labour is heavily influenced by the vested interests of …
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, no price rises price cuts, current suppliers’ deals honoured, …
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. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …
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. 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
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 …
Despite a huge increase in the inbound traffic from Britain, Northern Ireland Tourist Board chief executive Alan Clarke believes that more needs to be done.One suggestion is to emphasise the Titantic’s Belfast origin: 2012 offers a convenient target to aim for. That marks the centenary of the Titanic being launched from Belfast for its brief career as the world’s most famous ocean liner before being sunk on its maiden voyage by an iceberg. Eager to cash in on the box …
Well Sinn Fein may be against the EU constitution, but it seems West Belfast is ready to take Eurozone money. Thanks to reader Jer. 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
UTV in Republic is migrant top spot briefly covers a story covered in considerably greater depth by the Sunday Times’ story Ireland top target for EU migrants.From the S.T. Stephen O’Brien, Political Correspondent IRELAND is the most popular destination for migrants from the European Union’s 10 new member states, according to new figures. More than 85,000 citizens from accession states joined the workforce during the year since enlargement in May 2004 — six times more per head of population than …
Backbenchers may come and backbenchers may go but Lord Laird keeps on truckin’! He’s intending to ask awkward questions about Phil Flynn and the Bank of Scotland billions. Julia Kollewe, Banking Correspondent, reports in the Independent : Peer calls for inquiry into Bank of Scotland’s £8bn Ulster loan book.It’s a sign of the times that he’s happy to call for “a joint investigation by the UK and Irish authorities into the £8bn Belfast loan book of Bank of Scotland between …
Interesting opinion piece from the Lex column on the back yesterday’s FT on the huge economic value that migrant workers bring to their newly chosen countries. 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
Former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald, writing in the Irish Times (subs needed), says it’s time for Northern Ireland’s politicians to turn their attentions towards reversing the relative decline of the region between the rest of the Irish Republic and the UK saying now “in some important aspects it is akin to the East German basket case; above all in the debilitating scale of its economic and financial dependence on the larger neighbour to which it is politically linked.”Fitzgerald points out the …
Coca-Cola has picked Lisburn for its new £53m (€78m) all-island production plant, beating off competition from 60 sites, most in the Irish Republic. Does this bring the Maze Stadium idea one step closer? George
I see Gordon Brown’s budget has caused the usual high level of interest among the political parties in Northern Ireland.Brown follows in the inimitable footsteps of Charles Haughey by introducing free bus passes for pensioners while he has also doubled the level at which house buyers pay stamp duty to £120,000 sterling. No drop in petrol prices so people will still head south to tank up while no drop in corporation tax means foreign investors will still favour the Irish …
The Scottish National Party’s plans for creating a flourishing Scottish economy involve making Scotland among the 15 most competitive countries in the world with a 3% growth in population by 2015. Could any of the SNP’s suggestions work in Northern Ireland?Under its “Let Scotland Flourish” plan, the SNP plans to reduce corporation tax by a third to 20%, a policy that would have an even greater effect in Northern Ireland, which is in direct competition with the neighbouring Irish Republic, …
AS house prices soar in Northern Ireland, first time buyers are being priced out of the market. The LibDems suggested some ideas the other day to deal with this growing problem. A rise in the stamp duty threshold and restrictions on the sale of properties to those from outside the area has been mooted in the Yorkshire Dales.James Stinson reported today in the Irish News: Northern Ireland is turning into a region of haves and have-nots – those that have …
UP to 4,000 jobs could be created in a £14 million Belfast city masterplan announced by the Government today. The focus is on two major retail outlets and regeneration of the Cathedral and Castlecourt areas. I hope promises that public spaces will be improved and independent retailers will be looked after don’t turn out to be hollow – as they own many of the premises which will be torn down to make way for the new outlets.Social Development Minister John …
IIB chief executive Ted Marah says in the Irish Times (subs needed) he believes that strong economic growth in Northern Ireland is on its way as the effects of the southern boom spread north.The mortgage lender says it has currently 654 million euros in capital employed and is expanding on the island. It will open a regional headquarters in Belfast with the logic behind this move is that Northern Ireland is beginning to show signs of strong growth. Marah says …
FIRST we had the pink pound, now we have the Orange one (perhaps worth a ‘crown’?). The institution’s charm offensive continues by highlighting the economic benefits the ‘biggest folk festival in Europe’ brings to NI. The Order claims that members and supporters spend £6.3 million on the Twelfth.Wonder if that figure would cover the PSNI overtime and council clean-ups afterwards? Meanwhile, Ciaran Barnes points out in Daily Ireland that while the DUP’s Nelson McCausland, whose Orange Lodge may be marching …
The Family Resources Survey Urban Rural Report (2002/3) has been published. It provides an overview of many differences in lifestyle between the East/West, Rural/Urban.Some points from the report. Weekly household income Urban East £461, Urban West £419, Rural West £454, Rural East £542. The Urban West also had the highest proportion of households in receipt of Income Support (including those receiving Minimum Income Guarantee) at 26 percent, compared to only ten percent in the Rural East. The Urban West and …
