Northern Ireland’s banks face the charge from the Office of Fair Trading that they collude through lack of any serious competition in overcharging personal customers. 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
BRENDAN Keenan wonders if devolution actually makes any positive difference to the Northern Ireland economy. Meanwhile, a new report indicates that while southerners are tighening their belts in a ‘Rip-off Ireland’ where both the quality and cost of living are increasing, more northerners living outside Greater Belfast saw an improvement in their lifestyles than those within the city limits.Keenan wrote: The annual “subvention” of spending over local revenues is around £5bn (€7bn), out of total current spending of £14bn. There …
John Murray Brown looks at the vexed question of mobile phone tarriffs in border areas. Apparently 10% of the NI population recieve calls from networks on the other side of the border, and have to pay premium roaming charges as a result. I know from one recent visit the that my own T-Mobile phone kicked into the Vodafone Ireland network on the hill above Eglinton, Co Derry. Greg Campbell suggests there should be a regulator for Britain and Ireland. Mick …
Madsen Pirie at the Adam Smith Institute blogging some key differences between the US approach to the economy and that of the EU. Or is the gigantic Eurozone over regulating, stymying growth and thereby locking in long term European economic decline? 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
Barry Gardiner calls for more coherence in mobile phone charging on an all island basis:”We are seeking the mobile operators to enter into joint arrangements on a cross-border basis to offer customers all-island tariffs. While we acknowledge that a number of operators offer all-island tariff options it is disappointing that where these are available they are limited to contract customers only. We want to see all-island rates extended to ‘pay-as-you-go’ mobile users, who represent around 70% of the mobile customer …
Interesting statement from Stephen Kingon, pointing out that with government spending set to dip, and 300% increase in the long term sick rate, Northern Ireland is long overdue a wide ranging debate on the challenge raised by developing a more flexible economy. 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: …
MORE good news for air travellers in Northern Ireland. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Even well after the rip tide of the Celtic Tiger, the Derry Journal claims that the Republic’s economy is set to grow at 5%, whereas Northern Ireland is predicted to grow at 3%. It goes on to argue that an all island economy is what’s required, with increased integration of roads and transport, energy and telecommunications infrastructures amongst other things. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …
TOM Kelly takes a cynical look at the £1 billion peace dividend that never was, but in a fetive spirit of goodwill, looks at how the money should have been spent. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
The Northern Bank, and the National in the Republic, is finally to get a new owner – the Danske Bank from Denmark. 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
Belfast company Andor Technologies floated on the Alternative Investment Market in London this morning, raising a serious amount of capital to invest in future development. It’s the second NI company to have floated in the same market. 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
John Murray Brown with a report on how a growing number of Belfast retailers are preparing to take Euros alongside sterling this Christmas. Newry’s been developing a strong cross border trade for several years now. 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
University research and development now outstrips that conducted by the private sector. It appears to be in part a function of the persisting importance of an aging manufacturing industry which has been in even steeper long term decline elsewhere in the UK. The overall trend in R&D is markedly downward. 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 …
Jude Collins argues that people should not get too hung up on whether the two parties agree a deal or not. He believes that much of the good news for Nationalists are happening outside the party political field. 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
Good news on the tourism front. The overall number of visits to NI between January and September topped out over the 2 million mark, with holiday visits growing by 14%. 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 response to a recent piece in the Newsletter by Lord John Laird, Sean Farren provides a defence of the work of the North South bodies, and Northern Ireland’s medium to long term interest in it.By Sean Farren Co-operation between Northern Ireland and the South is a positive political, economic and cultural fact of life in Northern Ireland. North/South bodies are making a positive difference and cross border co-operation is clearly delivering change for the better and mutual benefit. Contrary …
THE four big banks in NI – the Bank of Ireland, First Trust, Northern Bank and Ulster Bank – are ripping its customers off, according to consumer watchdog Which? In some instances we are being charged 21 times what a GB customer is charged. Time to switch banks…Phil Evans, principal policy adviser for Which?, said: “Bank customers in Northern Ireland are being ripped off. “The big four in Northern Ireland are all offering similarly inferior products, leaving their customers with …
The Economist’s survey of Ireland is available on line, though most of it is subscription locked. This section from the summary piece makes for an interesting thought that the Tiger might have been in part dependent on the widely perceived success Northern Irish peace process:”Peace in Northern Ireland has helped to boost the economy of the whole island. A visitor to Dublin, so lively and cosmopolitan today, would find it hard to believe that only a few decades ago it …
SINN Fein’s economy spokesman Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin has described revelations that the Irish exchequer missed out on over €8 billion in revenue as a result of tax avoidance schemes as “vindication of Sinn Féin policies on taxation.” Is Caoimhghin really saying smuggling cigarettes and diesel across the border counts as a policy? We knew the paramilitaries were good, but €8 billion? I refuse to believe it!Sorry – couldn’t resist. ;o) Still, is it not a bit rich for a party …
Suzanne Breen with a piece on the lingering differential between Catholic and Protestant unemployment rates. In a companion article in The Village she quotes Diane Dodds complaint about the high levels of Catholics employed in certain jobs, mostly those requiring lower skill sets – ‘96% of security and cleaning staff are Catholic’. However, the differential appears to reverse as the skills and pay rise – ‘Catholics are seriously under-represented among the Royal’s dental (16%) and medical (32%) staff’. Mick FealtyMick …
