Every Saturday morning as I convert the family car into a taxi and begin a marathon round of kids drops offs and pick ups, I tune into Radio 5 Live and I have the hilarious Danny Baker for company. This Saturday as post office party eh, dehydration, was also on the cards, Danny let us know what he thinks of the news. He reckoned that all news broadcasts should be banned until a week after Christmas when they could start up again, and be as bad as ever, but at least we would all have had a break from the anxiety. Danny’s view was that the FTSE Top 100 figures mean nothing to the ‘ordinary man on the street’ so why insert them into every bulletin? Reflecting on the news cycle in Northern Ireland over the last week I could see what he meant.

This past week the Audit Office report into the Tourist Board signature projects was released, on the day that tickets went online for the Titanic Belfast building, which will open its doors next April. Talk about bad timing. The audit office questioned the viability of the yet to open building and whether it will meet its ambitious sales targets. In a report which missed the whole point of the exercise by a mile, the boffins of the Audit Office managed to throw a cloud over some of our best hopes for economic regeneration. Naturally elements of the media lapped it up and some commentators, including in this newspaper, took great delight in picking over the bones of a project which has yet to be built, never mind opened. Since the report was published tickets to Titanic Belfast have gone on sale and at the time of writing well in excess of 60,000 have been sold, with more than 300 tourist parties having reserved their place for 2012.

In this column some 5 years ago I questioned whether there was the will within central and local Government to get a suitable Titanic tourist project open prior to the centenary celebrations. At the time of publication there was a lot of talking going on, with not a shovel in sight. It was an opinion piece which earned me a not so gentle rebuke from City Hall officials and I am delighted and relieved to be able to say that my misgivings were misplaced. Through the PR role of the company for whom I work for in my day job I have had a chance to get a tour of the new Titanic Belfast building and it is quite simply stunning. The enthusiasm of those behind the project is infectious and there is no doubt that this venture can succeed. A bit of goodwill will help along the way.

Do you recall the Kevin Costner movie “Field of Dreams”? It’s one of my favourites and over the Christmas holiday season I am likely to re watch it. It features an Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella who hears a voice urging him to construct a baseball field with the words, “If you build it, they will come”. Titanic Belfast may or may not get the 290,000 visitors it has targeted each year but one thing is for sure, if we hadn’t built it, they wouldn’t come. At least we now have a shot at capturing a decent share of the tourist market next year and beyond.

For those begrudgers who decry the public funding, I really have no time. A couple of months the same people were complaining that the MTV awards cost the Council £1m. So what? Had it been double that it was still worth the money. What Northern Ireland needs right now from those in public office and from the entrepreneurs in society, is courage and imagination, not the spectre of the risk adverse Audit Office and Public Account Committee lurking on their shoulder and discouraging investment. Of course there is a balance between investing money and wasting it, but with the projects under scrutiny last week – which also included the Giants Causeway centre – we are talking about infrastructure projects which can help us make a mark in the international tourism sector.

On the day that I had the pleasure of seeing inside Titanic Belfast I also had a tour of the new Metropolitan Arts Centre which will also open next April. There is another piece of emerging infrastructure which is breath-taking. It is actually difficult to remember that you are not on holiday somewhere overseas when you realise what the MAC is going to be like, and the works which will be on display in St Anne’s Square.

The future of Belfast and of Northern Ireland can be great; there is no question about that. But let’s not have the cynics take over, this is a time to be confident and ambitious in our targets for our new society. In a few years to come, 2012 can be one we look back on as the year we turned the corner.

I only hope that with all these new attractions on our doorstep, I still have time for good old Danny on a Saturday morning.

 Deborah has been working with Stakeholder for 6 years, between the company’s Belfast headquarters and the local Newry office. Recently appointed as Vice President of Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade among her clients are some well known Newry businesses including The Quay’s Shopping Centre, Parker Green International, Autoline Insurance Group, Jack Murphy Jewellers as well as the Southern Area Hospice Services. Deborah also works with established regional names, Sainsbury’s, BBC TV Licensing and the Metropolitan Arts Centre.

Deborah said she was delighted to receive the award, for which there was some very stiff competition.

“There were 8 of my PR colleagues from firms right across NI who were shortlisted and to be honest I was delighted to be named amongst them. To win was absolutely fantastic and it is a reflection on the strength of the team which Tom Kelly has established at Stakeholder.”

Deborah is pictured, left, receiving her award from Jane Wilson, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Not much good news out there is there? The rain we have at the moment seems to somehow sum up the mood. Unemployment is at a 15 year high and seems set to continue the upward trend.  Youth unemployment which to my mind is a particularly severe measurement stands at 18% of people aged between 18 – 24. The public sector trade unions have decided that right now is a suitable time for them to strike, on the back of a ballot of members which showed a paltry 13% support for such action. With the Tories in power and promising better times ahead if we just tighten our belts for now, I sometimes wonder if we have re wound to the worst days of the 1980s. We even have the return of Rab C Nesbitt on our TV screens!

The one economic initiative which does offer an opportunity to dramatically shift the fortunes of Northern Ireland is the devolution of the power to vary corporation tax. Unfortunately the momentum seems to have gone out of that project, with the announcement by David Cameron of a joint committee of Ministers to examine the issue. The last thing we need now is another committee, to produce another report, and another round of consultation before a final recommendation, followed by an Equality Impact Assessment, which will lead to another analysis….I guess you get my point.

To give the Secretary of State credit where it is due, Owen Patterson definitely does deserve plaudits for the leadership shown on this issue, up to this point. He has been an advocate for lower corporation tax and has clearly been prepared to make the argument inside the cabinet where necessary. The sometimes mixed messages coming from our own Assembly in all likelihood haven’t helped matters. If the new committee serves to shut down the arguments about the impact on the block grant, and helps clarify the exact detail of the case for lower tax, then it may be a necessary step along the path to that goal. In the meantime though let’s hope it works to a very tight timescale and adds momentum to the argument, rather than slowing it down.

The victory won on the issue of Airport Passenger Duty was an absolutely vital one. Maintaining an economically competitive link between Northern Ireland and the USA was important of itself, but so was the lesson contained in winning the argument. If there is an issue that the business and political community can rally around, speak on with a united voice and make the argument where it needs to be heard, individual battles can be won, and concessions gained.

On some issues such as the drastic action needed to address the schools estate, and the over provision of casualty services in Belfast the Executive seems prepared to grasp difficult issues, and it would not be before time. In both instances though Just in case you were getting too hopeful though the depressing debate on energy prices two weeks ago was evidence that too many MLAs want to have their cake and eat it. Local representatives followed each other for a call for “something to be done”, and in the next sentence Fermanagh representatives bemoaned a planning application for a licence to extract new sources of gas. Arlene Foster clearly ran out of patience and rounded on her Assembly colleagues – reflecting the mood of the rest of the population.

A quick glance of the order paper at the Assembly this week gives clear evidence that our representatives continue to propose and pass meaningless motions in the manner of a school debating society. The vast majority of Assembly business is made of private member motions ‘calling for’, ‘demanding’ or ‘recognising…’ one issue after another. Earlier this month, in the face of rising unemployment and a growing sense of economic and community frailty, the Assembly debated the prevalence of roadside weeds. Really.

One common talking point these days, and not just from SDLP leadership hopefuls, is cross border cooperation on the economy, on health and even on education. Indeed one of the motions on the Assembly this week calls for the development of an all Ireland jobs creation strategy. It would be useful if there was a mature debate on that issue even in the sure knowledge that there will be hardly any practical outworking of a vote in favour. We are past the stage now where the mere mention of all Ireland cooperation provokes a negative political response. Tourism is promoted internationally by Tourism Ireland Limited, while Inter Trade Ireland is now firmly bedded down in its Newry headquarters. When it comes to attracting trade and investment the watchword for North / South bodies should be, collaboration where it makes sense, competition when necessary.

Although it seems futile to attempt to put a positive spin our economic situation we are still below the UK unemployment level, less than the EU average and of course our proportion of unemployed workers in NI is half that of the RoI. But why does it feel like it won’t stop raining anytime soon?

• 250 jobs to be created through the opening of Bangor store
• First Minister Peter Robinson taken on a tour of the Holywood Exchange store

Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Justin King arrived in Northern Ireland today as the retailer announced the creation of 250 jobs in the new Bangor store and made a commitment to recruit at least 150 additional seasonal workers over the busy Christmas and New Year period in Northern Ireland.

The new store at Balloo Industrial Estate in Bangor is due to open in November and recruitment is already underway. The 35,000 sq ft store will be the supermarket’s 13^th in Northern Ireland. Sainsbury’s also has two further stores in the planning process in Bangor and Derry/Londonderry. If these new stores are given the go- ahead it will take the number of people employed by Sainsbury’s in Northern Ireland to more than 4,000.

As part of his two day visit Justin King took First Minister Peter Robinson on a tour of the Holywood Exchange store to brief him on the company’s commitment to Northern Ireland, its colleagues here and Sainsbury’s many local suppliers.

In the course of a two day visit Justin King will also meet with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle O Neill at local supplier Doherty & Gray’s plant in Ballymena.

Speaking of his visit, Justin King said, “I always enjoy visiting our stores and colleagues in Northern Ireland. The stores here are playing an important part of our overall growth strategy and consistently do a great job for our customers. I am very proud of the fact that during this time of continuing economic uncertainty Sainsbury’s is continuing to create employment locally and to provide our shoppers with great value for money.  Sainsbury’s also has an unrivalled record of supporting Northern Irish farmers and suppliers through our regional sourcing teams, helping to support the wider economy.”

“Since August our Northern Irish customers have benefited from the trial of our ‘Brand Match’ technology – our customer price commitment on branded goods. We promise to beat or match Tesco and Asda on total price of branded items in their shopping basket or give you a coupon for the difference which can be used your next shop, even if the goods were on promotion. This has been very well received locally.”

“I am delighted to have met with the First Minister Peter Robinson and senior politicians to discuss some of the issues facing the retail sector at the moment and indeed the issues affecting us all as consumers. Sainsbury’s is now an integral part of the Northern Ireland economy and community and I look forward to many more visits in the future.”

The Justin King visit will conclude with stores visits and a supplier event at Doherty & Gray in Ballymena.

It seems that like the weather, the news just keeps getting worse. There is certainly no sign of an Indian summer and no immediate let up in the economic climate and as for the thugs who went on the rampage in England last week, the only good thing was that it allowed us to hold up Belfast as a peaceful haven. So, what can be done, is there any light at the end of the tunnel for Northern Ireland? Well, the good news is, there’s always next year.

January 2012 sees the start of a year of centenaries and major events, which, if managed properly with sufficient investment could mark a sea change in the way we are perceived internationally and in the change could lie an opportunity. Next year is the one in which Northern Ireland sets out its tourism stall like never before and we wait to see who takes the bait. I like our chances.

Through my day job I am very familiar with the Titanic Belfast phenomenon and believe me, the flagship tourism project rising up at the perimeter of Titanic Quarter is spectacular. It will bring thousands of visitors here next year and has the potential to do so for years to come. Not only will we have the Titanic dynamic to help make the next few years unprecedented in terms of tourism potential there are other events lined up too, including the World Police and Fire Games which will bring 15,000 competitors to Belfast in 2013. Thanks to the efforts of Council and the Visitor and Convention Bureau, the MTV awards roll into town this Autumn.

All of this activity is on top of what Belfast already puts on each year. Over the next two weeks more than 40,000 music fans will head to Custom House Square in Belfast, one two of those nights an additional 70,000 will head for Ward Park in Bangor for the Vital music festival. Throw in the opening of The MAC early next year and the staple diet of festivals which already pepper each calendar year and 2012 really has the potential to be the key which unlocks Northern Ireland’s tourism potential. But can we do even more?

Last week, inspired by a random tweet from newly elected Belfast Councillor Mairtin O’Muilleoir, I began to think about how best to capitalise on an under- performing Belfast institution; our marathon. Surely if there is a year in which running 26.2 miles in Belfast can be made ever more appealing, it is 2012?

Marathons the world over are used to showcase their host city. In New York more than 250,000 people apply to for one of 50,000 places; in London hopefuls literally enter a ballot to gain a place.  In each of those cities, as in Dublin, Boston, Amsterdam and the other recognised ‘Top 10 marathons’ the event consumes the city, dominates live TV, attracts major commercial sponsorship and is a major boost for the hospitality sector in those areas. In Belfast ours is a good event, attracting 20,000 runners across the relay race and marathon proper, and credit to those who laboured to establish it through very difficult times, but now is the time to aim higher.

Wouldn’t the 30^th anniversary of our race, in 2012, be the perfect to time to re calibrate the marathon with the city of Belfast?

Next year’s race should have a one-off Titanic theme, starting from or finishing at the new Titanic Belfast building which, by then, will be all of about three weeks old and will still be the centre of international media attention. Every entrant should get a specially commissioned Titanic Marathon medal. That alone will inspire more runners to sign up. The overall route must change and be taken back into the north, south, east and west Belfast. For the last few years large sections of Belfast have been skirted past in favour of the empty and soulless North Foreshore and adjacent industrial estate. That is not a small point which can easily be dismissed; it is a source of frustration among all serious runners in Belfast and makes our run harder to sell internationally.

We have a fantastic TV screen now in the grounds of City Hall, let’s put it to use and put up a live feed of runners as they traverse the city and cross the finish line. That will bring friends and families who want to contribute to the atmosphere. Let each quarter of the city challenge each other for on street entertainment on marathon day as in London. Open talks now with a view to securing live TV coverage on the day, helping to attract even more sponsorship. Fundamentalist naysayers will object but the event really should be moved to a Sunday and the whole city centre closed to traffic and runners and their families given the freedom of the streets for a day.

Some of these changes will take time, others contain an opportunity which only relates to one year, but it is worth elevating the Belfast marathon to an event which can aspire to join that Top 10 marathons in the world.

Looking at the website for next year’s event it is disappointing to read ‘next year’s route will be the same as 2011.’ It’s a pity because that’s old thinking, and this is new Belfast.

For years I have admired the song writing and musicianship of Paul Simon, and wanted to see him in concert. In the last decade he has played in Cork twice and once in Kilkenny, but never come north. When a Vicar Street gig was announced a few months ago, well, that venue is so damn small a ticket would be like gold dust, right? Maybe so but my friend David McCullagh got lucky with Ticketmaster and I rode along on the back of his good fortune, all the way to Dublin on Monday last, and it was well worth the trip.

Paul Simon put on a wonderful, timeless concert. He ambled onto stage behind his 8 piece band and the sound of the accordion kicked off The Boy in the Bubble. From then on he weaved his way through his new album, ‘So Beautiful or So What’, a couple of carefully selected cover versions including the Beatles Here Comes the Sun, and a parade of gold plated Paul Simon classics.

This was the perfect venue to see Simon who remarked, “It’s great to play in a club”; every note of every instrument (and there were plenty) was crystal clear and the bond between artist and audience was instant and enduring. Slip Sliding Away became a sing along (a quiet one!) but Paul and the band also showed they could rock out on the title track of the new album and the rhythm laden The Obvious Child. The first encore started with a solo rendition of Simon and Garfunkel standard The Sound of Silence while The Only Living Boy in New York was in the main set.

The respect and affection which went out to Paul Simon from the audience, even before a note was struck, was not based solely in a nostalgic yearning for the 1960’s or for the Graceland album. Even now, Paul Simon remains a relevant and challenging artist and new songs like Rewrite and Dazzling Blue packed even more of a punch live than they do on the studio versions. And for sure, when he plays Kodachrome, or Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover, or Still Crazy….well, who could not love those songs? Hearing them played by this talented band, fronted by their author was a real treat.

The 69 year old New Yorker (imagine him signing ‘Old Friends’ after his next birthday, “How terribly strange to be 70……..”) rolled back the years in a show which ran to just over two years. His voice is strong and his stage presence continues to belie his stature.

I’m glad I finally saw Paul Simon in concert for the first time, now I am looking for an opportunity to notch up my second gig!

SETLIST

The Boy in the Bubble
Dazzling Blue
50 Ways
So Beautiful or So What
Vietnam
Mother And Child Reunion
That Was Your Mother
Hearts and Bones
Mystery Train
Wheels
Rewrite
Peace Like A River
The Obvious Child
Only Living Boy in New York
The Afterlife
Diamonds
Gumboots

Sound of Silence
Kodachrome
Gone at Last
Here Comes The Sun

Crazy Love
Late In The Evening
Still Crazy

Today marks the 5th time we have played Sligo over the last 3 seasons, and the margins between the teams could not be closer. We have won two matches each and the points difference between Antrim and the Yeatsmen in Division 2 of the league stands at one point.

Two years ago both sides began their journey up the National League divisions when we finished first and second in Division 4. During the regular league series we accounted for Sligo with 5 points to spare on a floodlit Saturday evening. While it wasn’t the last game of our campaign it effectively sealed promotion both teams came into that clash with 5 wins apiece and victory that night meant Antrim could not be caught in the race for one of the top two places. The Division 4 final was played out in Longford and Sligo won a bruising encounter 1.12 to 1.10.

In the opening round of our Division 3 campaign in February 2010 Sligo were again the opposition. Another very close match ensued and an early Antrim penalty goal from Paddy Cunningham helped the Saffrons to a 4 point half time lead. We withstood a concentrated Sligo towards the end to run out 1 point winners, 1.12 to 0.14. In a mirror image of our Division 4 campaign a year previously the two sides met again in the Divisional Final, this time in the glorious setting of Croke Park.

However the result was far from glorious from an Antrim viewpoint. Sligo attacked at pace from the beginning of the game and were seemingly able to score points from any angle. David Kelly in particular was in sparkling form and provided a pre championship glimpse of his summer form in a match which ended 0.19 to 1.11. Both sides would have taken comfort from the achievement of successive promotions, and that achievement brings us here once again – Antrim V Sligo in Casement Park.

It was always a very long shot that both teams would again be competing at the top end of the table for promotion, and that has been borne out. With one win secured over Meath, Antrim currently sit third from bottom of the Division while Sligo, with one draw to their name so far, are bottom. Today’s game has perhaps even more significance than those of 2009 and 2010, with preservation of what was previously achieved being the driving motivation today. Whoever wins today has a more realistic shot at preserving their precious

Division 2 status and that should be enough to ensure a tight, competitive game. Hoping for an enjoyable encounter may be a step too far…

Brendan Mulgrew

A national league clash between Antrim and Meath at Casement Park is not a common affair and one particular encounter from 1990 is well remembered by some of the more senior Saffrons in the crowd today.

That day Antrim, managed by Eamon Grieve, recorded a famous victory over what would arguably become the greatest Meath side ever, by a whopping 4-08 to 1.07 scoreline.Antrim plotted the win on that occasion by withdrawing full-forward Barney McCann and tempting the legendary Mick Lyons out the field. The plan worked to perfection, leaving space in front of the Meath goal upon which Antrim’s forwards feasted to their hearts’ content. Following that day the two counties have travelled different paths

Unfortunately, it was another season of promise upon which the Saffrons failed to build, while that Meath squad went on to lose the 1990 & 1991 All-Ireland Final. That was to be the swan song for many of Meath’s household names: Colm O’Rourke, perhaps the greatest scoring forward of his era, would never play in a final again, likewise Liam Hayes and the aforementioned Lyons.

Six years later Meath won their next All Ireland title, beating Mayo in the famous replayed final of 1996. Further success followed in 1999 when they defeated Cork by three points, while their last final appearance came in 2001 when, having slaughtered Kerry to end Paudi O Shea’s reign as Kingdom manager, they were themselves trounced by Padraig Joyce’s Galway. In the eleven years since Antrim’s famous 1990 victory, Meath had contested five All-Ireland finals, winning two, while the Saffrons had only 2000’s heroic win over Down and draw against Derry to show for their troubles.

It was against this backdrop of disparity that Meath returned to Casement Park for an All Ireland qualifier in June 2005. The old guard was gone and had been replaced by players every bit as good in Trevor Giles, Graham Geraghty and Darren Faye and a young Antrim side failed to cope with the flair-filled Meath attack. The Royals slammed five goals to the back of the Antrim net in a 5-11 to 0-10 victory. Meath were again the visitors in the first season of night time matches when they won a floodlit league encounter in 2007, 2-11 to 1-11.

There is no reason that the Saffrons should fear the Royals today, but they will have to be on guard against a new generation of Meath forwards, who look on their day to be every bit as capable as their predecessors in punishing poor marking. Shane O’Rourke faired well against Sligo, while Brian Farrell found the net again. As in 1990, goals may be the key if Antrim are to take the points. A win today would may not be quite as memorable as the one in 1990, but it would be every bit as important to an Antrim squad seeking to rediscover its winning ways and ensure Division 2 status for another season.

Conor Caldwell

Until last summer meetings between our two counties were something of a rarity. Opening round championship defeats to Louth and Tyrone meant that Kildare and Antrim respectively were in the qualifier hat for the first round and we were paired together on Saturday 26th June.

That match was played in the shadow of the funeral of Dermot Early Snr, whose memory received due respect at the start of proceedings. After that it was on with the game. Paddy Cunningham opened the scoring for Antrim before Kildare fired themselves into the lead with some well-taken points. The Lilywhites were sloppy towards the end of the first half and Antrim scored the last two points to leave one in it at the break.

In the second half Kildare could never get further than two points ahead and it was Antrim who finished the stronger. Kevin McGourty played a gigantic game and his score drew the sides level on full time. In extra time the Saffrons looked in trouble when Kildare scored two points early on, and they also missed what looked a gilt-edged goal chance. Paddy Cunningham scored a point in each period of extra time to level matters. As in normal time we might have won in the end. As the clock ran down it was Antrim who were bossing the game, turning over possession and creating scoring opportunities. In the end though both sides had to make do with a replay.

A week later Kildare came to Belfast on a night when the Saffron hurlers played a qualifier game against Carlow. The hurlers fared better than the footballers who unfortunately turned in their most insipid display of the previous two years. Two goal chances were squandered early on and left Antrim playing catch up all evening. In the end Kildare ran out 1.15 to 0.9 winners. That was the start of Kildare’s wonderful back door adventure which brought them wins over Leitrim, Derry and Meath before they eventually fell to All-Ireland finalists Down.

After that draw in Newbridge last June our two seasons went in different directions. However there is little point in looking back on what might have been. It’s a new season and league and championship journeys lie before both teams. Antrim will look to consolidate our Division 2 status and that will mean making Casement Park something of a Saffron fortress. This game will be test of Antrim’s character and it is difficult to see anything like a nine point winning margin for either team this afternoon.

Brendan Mulgrew,
PRO CLG Aontroim

There has been a lot of commentary during the last few weeks about if and when the Northern Ireland Executive will agree a budget to present to the Assembly before Christmas. Apparently some of our politicians and commentators are vexed that this region is the last in the UK to agree a draft budget.  We mustn’t forget however that when it comes to big issues like setting a budget or for that matter restoring devolution, going to the wire is in the DNA of Northern Ireland’s political leaders, particularly the DUP and Sinn Fein. Anyway, all of the criticism will rightly disappear when the Executive does indeed produce a budget sometime this week. Then the real questioning can begin – have they got the right mix for restoring the local economy and driving an economic renewal in Northern Ireland?

There are big issues up for grabs when the Ministers do finally sign off on Departmental allocations. Health and Education usually capture the headlines from understandable reasons – consuming the vast majority of NI spend in their own. Danny Kennedy at the Department of Employment & Learning has already prepared the ground for some increase in the cap in student tuition fees, although the number of times he uttered the name “Joanne Stuart” during his first session of Assembly questions suggests that he is investing a lot of political capital  in her forthcoming report. Stuart was asked by the Minister; on the day he published her report, to immediately review it in light of the UK Government’s “Browne Review”. However the decision will be that of the Minister and his colleagues and that is how it should be. It is clear enough that student fees will have to rise in order to keep higher education funded, what local politicians have is the power to minimise the increase and keep higher education accessible to everyone.  That was the principle on which Sean Farren introduced sweeping changes to system in 2001, re introducing grants and reducing the numbers paying fees. That principle should stand now, even in such straightened economic times.

The big prize which all local politicians fought for over recent years has been the ability to set our own level of corporation tax. The DUP in their manifesto from earlier this year said “Corporation tax should be substantially reduced to kick-start economic growth. We have a particularly strong case in Northern Ireland for a reduction in corporation tax. Northern Ireland suffers from having a land border with another EU state and a step change is needed in the province’s economy.” When the chance to reduce corporation tax was rejected in 2007 by Sir David Varney the decision was met with widespread disappointment. At the time Peter Robinson vowed to keep raising the issue “we will continue to argue the case for a reduction in corporation tax. This issue will not go away.”

The First Minister was right; the issue did not go away. The new coalition Government pledged to ‘rebalance’ the Northern Ireland economy, making us less dependent on the public sector. This paper revealed a week ago that the campaign by the business community and political parties had at last paid off; corporation tax would be reduced over time to 12.5%. It is estimated that the move could yield 3 – 4,000 jobs per year in the private sector. However the Republic of Ireland economy was mishandled handled in recent years the Celtic Tiger was born on the back of a bold move on corporation tax. From our point of view one leading businessman told me last week that it really was the only possible game changer in town. Anything else is tinkering with the edges of our economy.

Now that is within our grasp however nerves are beginning to become a little frayed in some quarters, including those of Finance Minister Sammy Wilson. To be fair to Sammy his caution is based on the initial costs which would likely come in at something like £300 m a year. Hopefully the Minister’s posturing is aimed at getting the treasury to make up the difference. Other voices opposed to the reduction belong to the trade union movement yet their argument is difficult to decipher, beyond the headline on the press release which suggests that the move would create a “tax haven” in Northern Ireland. The ICTUNI report argues that the sought after reduction will still leave companies here paying higher tax than in the Republic, it might not work anyway and could be found to be illegal. Such negative arguments are not a basis for rejecting an initiative which evidence has shown might just work, which will leave us instantly more competitive than most other EU regions and more competitive than ever with our neighbours, and as for the legality arguments – let’s leave those to lawyers and Governments.  And questions of legality disappear when we consider the Azores ruling – that island region of Portugal for many years now has enjoyed a lower corporation tax rate than continental Portugal.

As our Ministers negotiate the final rounds of our own budget with one another, they should keep an eye on the main prize too. What they and the business community have argued for more than a decade, supported by economists and academics, is within reach. We really cannot afford to reject a reduction in corporation tax.