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THE WEEK THAT WAS…. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, and it’s not Superman either, but another equally rare object, Executive Business on the Floor of the Assembly. Indeed, not only was the House treated to some social security regulations which actually varied from Westminster’s provisions to account for local circumstances, [...]
The UK Government and NI Executive have come under fresh pressure to re-examine their response to the collapse of the Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS) after leading church figures and Conservative Leader David Cameron MP called on them to take action to alleviate the plight of savers. Nearly 10,000 savers were hit by the collapse of [...]
Figures released from George Best Belfast City Airport show total passenger numbers during April 2009 were up almost 3% on April 2008; significantly better than most other airports in the UK. In a recent visit to the airport, Lord Mayor of Belfast Tom Hartley said: “I am delighted to [...]
Statement from the Parades Commission The Parades Commission has welcomed the decision by the parade organiser of the ‘Pride of the Bann’ parade in Coleraine this coming Friday 29th May. Commission Chairman Roger Poole said, “The Commission met today to consider this parade and we heard representations from political representatives as well as police. It [...]
Grafton Employment Group has named a new Global Chief Executive, Mr Jason Kennedy. The appointment follows a decision by company co-founders, James Kilbane and Ken Belshaw, to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities of running the business whilst retaining a presence on the Group’s board. Mr. Kennedy joins Grafton from the global recruitment firm Manpower inc. [...]
In the current political climate one has to feel a degree of sympathy for the canvassers of all political parties as they come to your door over the next few weeks. The electorate is not in a very forgiving mood and who can blame them. Moat cleaning, plasma Tvs, grocery bills and ladies ‘accessories’ all [...]
Legislation has arrived upon us again after a lengthy gap with the Minister for Social Development bringing forward amendments to social security regulations for lone parents and others. Question time when the Minister for Education is at the dispatch box is normally a pretty robust affair, but this week could be particularly heated following the controversy over [...]
THE WEEK THAT WAS…. If Stormont’s Order Paper was a mini-skirt its skimpiness would raise eyebrows among even the most liberally minded. Another week and another session without even the fig-leaf of some Westminster inspired regulations to run past our democratic guardians. The pace isn’t pedestrian, it’s pre-historic. In that context, why the big fuss [...]
Paddy Power, who usually do their homework before setting a price, have an interesting insight into the NI Euro election. The shortest odds on Jim Allister’s first preference vote is 60,0000+, at 2/1. If PP has it right it opens up a number of interesting questions. Where is he getting these votes from? Dissafected [...]
First Derivatives plc, the Newry-based provider of software and consulting services to the world’s financial markets, has this morning announced record annual results on the London AIM and Dublin IEX exchanges. The company has recorded full year revenues of £17.5m, up 39% from £12.7m last year. Operating profit for 2009 was £5.9m, up 13% from £5.2m [...]
Discussions in the chamber will be dominated today by children and young people with debates on issues including safeguarding and protection tabled by the DUP, and motions on juvenile justice and special needs both laid by SF. In the committees we have Agriculture tackling the departments review of training and skills, EU CAP consultation and the DARD Direct [...]
MLAs from all five main political parties in the Assembly recently attended a high-level briefing on the potential for the Natural Gas industry to deliver an ‘economic shot in the arm’ for Northern Ireland. Industry experts from Phoenix Natural Gas who make gas available to over 265,000 homes and businesses in Greater Belfast, were invited to [...]
Dr. George Abela will take the oath of Office as President of Malta today at noon in a special sitting of Parliament in the Grand council chamber of the President’s Palace. George Abela will be the eighth President of the Republic of Malta.
At first glance things look quiet at the Assembly today, but we can probably expect a few political fireworks in the UUP-sponsored debate on the review of government departments and MLAs designed to save running costs. Question time will feature OFMDFM, Agriculture and Culture, Arts & Leisure and the house will also establish a committee [...]
“For I know all by rote that I tell. My theme is always one, and ever was: Radix malorum est cupiditas”. So says Chaucer’s Pardoner in The Canterbury Tales. I had a love-hate relationship with Chaucer. The temptation to translate the Latin as “greed/money is the root of all evil” was not enough for my [...]
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