Posts filed under 'Economic Growth & Investment'
North Down MLA Leslie Cree Ulster Unionist Enterprise Trade and Investment spokesperson has welcomed the debate in the Assembly today concerning the development of the Northern Rail Corridor between Londonderry and Belfast. Mr. Cree considers the debate to have raised wider issues and specifically the need for a long-term strategy for the rail-network in Northern Ireland. Mr. Cree is concerned that the Minister for Regional Development and the Enterprise Minister are not co-operating and are lacking in ideas when it comes to improving infrastructure links between tourist attractions and economic hubs in the province…
Continue Reading E-mail April 8th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA and Member of the OFM/DFM Committee Tom Elliott today outlined the UUP position on the Programme for Government.
Mr Elliott said the Party was seeking support for an amendment which calls on the Executive to ensure ongoing review of the Programme for Government and subsequent necessary revision. He said this was vital to ensure proper levels of democratic accountability.
In a statement Mr Elliott said,
“The Ulster Unionist Party is seeking to ensure that proper democratic accountability exists within the framework of the Programme for Government. In simple terms this means that Executive Ministers will have to report back on implementation and delivery.
There are as many flaws in the Programme for Government as there are benefits and MLAs need to be in a position to hold Ministers to account, push for change and ensure that the Programme is delivered as efficiently as possible.
We will support the Programme for Government on the basis that we need one in order to move things forward in Northern Ireland. We will support the Programme for Government with the caveat that the Ulster Unionist Party is not behoven to it lock, stock and two smoking barrels, but that it is a work in progress, responsive, subject to change if needs be, and fully open to democratic scrutiny by the Assembly.”
Continue Reading E-mail January 29th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
David McNarry MLA, the Ulster Unionist Chief Whip, has said that it was important for the NI Executive and for Invest Northern Ireland (INI) to set its sights high in attracting new jobs with pay rates which were above the industry average.
“In the past two years only 3,184 of the 6,016 new jobs created by INI had pay rates which were above their sectoral average. That is just 53%. What Northern Ireland needs is well remunerated jobs in high value-added areas.”
“The other problem with new job creation is the heavy dependence on the Business and Financial Services sector. In the past two years some 62% of all new jobs created were in that sector. While those jobs were very welcome, that sector was particularly susceptible to recession. Only 30% of those new jobs in the Business and Financial Services sector had pay rates above the sectoral average.”
“There needs to be a stronger analysis of the potential business opportunities which are home-grown, particularly those based on patents held in our two Universities. Home-grown jobs while initially fewer in number tended to have more staying power and to be less prone to move to low-wage locations elsewhere in the world.”
“It also has to be remembered that if there is to be a move from the public to the private sector, that many of our existing public sector jobs are comparatively well paid. There are concerns that well paid public sector jobs could be replaced by less well paid private sector jobs. The downside of that is that spending power in the economy will be reduced. This will have a major knock-on impact on the retail sector and it could lead to the unpicking of several local economies, particularly in the Belfast Travel to Work area.”
“I believe we need to look again at the strategy of INI and of the Strategic Investment Board with all of the constraints I have outlined in mind. The economy is complex and heavily inter-dependent and before we seek simplistic solutions to job creation problems we need to look at the knock-on impacts those create.”
E-mail January 21st, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Fred Cobain MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for North Belfast, has called on Enterprise Minister Nigel Dodds to step up Invest Northern Ireland (INI) investment in North Belfast.
“INI is investing only £332 per head of population in North Belfast. This compares to £1,220 in South Belfast, £1,018 in East Belfast, £773 in Foyle, £670 in Upper Bann and £595 in neighbouring East Antrim. The Northern Ireland average is £439 per head and North Belfast is receiving, therefore, just 75% of the average.”
Continue Reading E-mail January 21st, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey said that the last opportunity to achieve a step change in the Northern Ireland economy could be presented by the second report of Sir David Varney. In a statement Sir Reg said,
Continue Reading E-mail January 15th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Commenting on the publication of the Varney Report today, Ulster Unionist Finance spokesman Roy Beggs said in a statement,
“When the DUP failed to get the £1 Billion package that they had promised, they deflected their failure with the Varney Review and the prospect of tax reforms to kick-start the Northern Ireland economy. However Gordon Brown has already ruled out a lower corporation tax solely for Northern Ireland.
When this is combined with a tight, stand-still budget, it is clear reading between the lines of the Varney Report that we face a Herculean task in stimulating the much needed growth in Private Sector employment. We are to be reliant on our current budgets and our won devices.
The reduction in UK general corporation tax levels and the basic level of income tax from the last budget seems helpful at first look. However despite the headline grabbing reduction in corporation tax from 30% to 28% for large businesses, it should be remembered that there was a well concealed increase in the same tax from 19% to 21% for small business. The Northern Ireland economy relies particularly heavily on the enterprise of small and medium sized businesses. This increase in corporation tax for small business has adversely affected Northern Ireland.
The difficulty is that our manufacturing sector is being hit by higher costs in gas, electricity and transport than their competitors in the rest of the United Kingdom. These additional costs are already diverting money away from research and development and marketing.
The Chancellor should be granting lower excise duties across the board which would make many firms more competitive and in one fell swoop end the smuggling of illegal fuel that is funding on-going criminality in border areas. The exchequer is losing out in Millions of pounds due to their own stubborn short-sightedness. As it stands we have a chicken and egg situation, not helped by a Scrooge Chancellor and his even Scroogier predecessor whos legacy is still being felt.
Northern Ireland’s business men and women are a resilient and determined bunch. However given the closed mind of the chancellor on a local Corporation tax cut, his unwillingness to cut excise duties and bring them in line with our closest competitors in the Irish Republic, there are few tools at the disposal of the Executive to entice Investors to Northern Ireland. After all the hype and promises from the DUP, we have now been promised a second review into the implications for employment stemming from the Programme for government and the draft budget.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 18th, 2007
Roy Beggs MLA
Commenting on the continued fallout over the Maze Stadium plans this morning, UUP DCAL spokesman and DCAL Deputy Chairman David McNarry said in a statement,
“Much has been made about the architects for the site being snubbed after flying in from London. Before everybody weeps for them it should be remembered that they have currently been paid to date in the region of £3 Million for their plans. The Committee chose not to meet them yesterday because the process was, as some commentators have noted, a farce. We would be happy to welcome them again when we have all the information surrounding the project at our fingertips.
Here are the facts:
The Committee does not have the full picture, a business plan, the final costs or costed alternatives to the Maze stadium at present. This is like being asked to give an opinion on a car you are buying for someone without having seen anything other than how it looks.
The Committee felt it was being bounced. A News Conference was planned for the same time as the Committee meeting by the Minister and Architects, presumably designed to unduly influence the media and attempt to railroad the Committee into accepting a Maze or nothing outcome. This is no way to treat a Committee. Our role is to scrutinise and ensure that the public in Northern Ireland get value for Money. We are not a plaything to be used in a political game of chess by the Minister. Treating a Committee in this way is corrosive to the democratic process and makes a mockery of DUP claims of accountable Ministers.
The Committee is not in favour nor against a National Stadium at the Maze but we will not and can not make a final decision on this matter until we are properly armed with the facts, costings and a proper business plan. This is a common sense approach. We do not seek to be obstructive for obstruction’s sake but we do seek to be afforded basic courtesies and be given adequate information. The root causes of the difficulty surrounding the Maze project do not lie with the Committee. The Committee did not walk out, it was adjourned by consent and at the first opportunity apologised to the designers for circumstances which were beyond its control to which the designers replied with full understanding.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 14th, 2007
David McNarry MLA
Commenting on events this morning in the DCAL Committee, UUP DCAL spokesman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee David McNarry said,
“We will not be endorsing a shrine to terrorists on the Maze site, but if it is the intention of the DUP DCAL, Finance and First Minister to incorporate a national stadium with a shrine to terrorists then we believe there is insufficient public support for it.
We understand that a business study to be given to the Finance Minister extends beyond the Maze site with two options for the North foreshore and two options for existing stadia. We believe these must be explored fully before any decision can be made on the Maze.
At this moment we have not ruled anything in or anything out but until we are in receipt of all information on the matter the matter can only be resolved by the three DUP Ministers before bringing it to the Assembly.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 13th, 2007
David McNarry MLA
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey today called on the First and Deputy First Ministers to convene a meeting of Party Leaders to discuss the critical issues of the forthcoming economic conference, the Budget/Programme for government, and operation of the Executive. Sir Reg said only a united front would maximise potential investment. In a statement Sir Reg said,
“Northern Ireland has a window of opportunity lasting for the next six months, to secure meaningful investment from US based companies. After the Economic Conference in May 2008, US attention will switch to the Presidential election next November and the economic consequences for the US domestic economy. The Ulster Unionist Party wants the economic conference to succeed and deliver real and tangible investment. My own Department of Employment and Learning will be central to help deliver the skilled personnel investors will need, so I have every reason to work for a successful outcome.
This atmosphere will not come about naturally however, as recent events have demonstrated. The Executive must be a real coalition between parties and not just a collection of individuals there as of right. If some parties resort to riding roughshod over other parties then it is not a proper coalition in any meaningful sense of the word. Leaving aside the row over Margaret Ritchie’s decisions on the CTI money, the developments of last week, when Sinn Fein decided to ignore the Executive and press ahead with a statement on education from Caitriona Ruane, illustrates the double standard that the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP were referring to in October. There is clearly one law within the Executive for Sinn Fein and another for the SDLP.
The next few months may well be the last chance for Northern Ireland to achieve the economic kick start that we so obviously need, given that the so called economic package from London has failed to materialise. While we await the outcome of the Varney Report and the outworking of the EU taskforce on Northern Ireland, it seems to me that the spring economic conference takes on even more importance.
I repeat my call to the First and Deputy First Ministers to start a process of consolidating the Assembly by convening a meeting of the Party Leaders to discuss the critical issues of the economic conference, the Budget/Programme for government, and operation of the Executive.
The presentation of a ‘united front’ by the Assembly next spring would be an excellent background against which to attract and persuade potential investors that Northern Ireland really does have the skills and business friendly environment to maximise their investment.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 10th, 2007
Sir Reg Empey MLA
Commenting on the Education Minister’s proposals, Mr Burnside said :
“Suggesting a selection age of 14 when the vast majority of schools are organised on an 11-19 basis shows that this Minister is out of touch with reality. What is she telling us ? Does she mean that she will create new middle schools catering for the 11-14 age group ? Does she mean that pupils will continue in Primary Schools until they are 14 ? Either route would be a massive undertaking and would take anything up to 10 years to realise. Yet the Education Minister says the 11 Plus will be gone by 2009 to be replaced by selection at 14 in 2009.”
“The only place in Northern Ireland which has selection at 14 is North Armagh with its local Dickson Plan. It may be appropriate in that area but if the Minister does try to roll out something like the Dickson Plan across the Province, she will be ignoring the fact that the Dickson Plan actually still contains an element of selection. The only difference is that it happens at 14 instead of 11.”
“This sort of stuff, like the Minister herself, belongs in the Celtic mist. It is the sort of un-costed clap-trap which takes no account of the harsh financial realities facing this Executive. We need to get a dose of realism into this equation at the earliest opportunity.”
“We should be tacking the real educational issues such as literacy, numeracy, creating a skilled and employable workforce, sorting out the problems of under achievement and celebrating and building on the enormous academic success which our Grammar Schools have been.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 10th, 2007
David Burnside MLA
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