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20/07/2018
Other News In Brief
Fall In NI's Private Construction Activity 'Another Alarm Bell' - RUSA
The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RUSA) has described the latest fall in Northern Ireland's private sector construction activity as "another alarm bell for the wider economy".
Official statistics published on Thursday revealed construction output in NI for the first quarter of 2018 fell by 6% over the last 12 months.
The fall was driven by a marked slump in private sector activity, which was down 12% when compared with the same quarter last year. However, public sector work increased by 3% over the same period.
RSUA Director, Ciarán Fox, said the fall "suggests that Brexit and the absence of devolved Government has knocked private sector confidence and that investment is being held back as a result".
"Whilst public sector output has held up well over the last year we have serious concerns about the next 12 months due to uncertainty over which publicly funded projects are going to proceed to design stage and then on to site," he said.
"It is now vitally important that public sector clients provide specific details of which construction projects can proceed without Ministerial approval and which ones cannot."
NI Falls Further Behind On Relationship And Sex Education
Alliance Councillor Kate Nicholl has warned Northern Ireland is falling further and further behind the rest of the UK when it comes to developing relationship and sex education in schools.
The Belfast City Councillor made the comments as steps forward on the issue were made across England and Wales.
She said: "The UK government has taken major strides forward when it comes to standardising Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools, yet without an Executive in place Northern Ireland risks slipping further and further behind.
"Sex education in Northern Ireland is seriously lacking - along with leadership on this and many other issues. By failing to talk to children and young people about safe and healthy relationships, we are leaving them open to being completely unprepared for the relationships they will continue to have regardless. Rather than allowing them to confidently make informed choices, we are setting them up to make choices without all the relevant facts - a move that could lead to life changing outcomes."
PM Called To Bring An End To The Political Drift In NI
An Ulster Unionist delegation have called on the Prime Minister to take control of the situation in Northern Ireland to bring an end to the political drift.
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann MLA said: "Northern Ireland is being offered no certainty on Brexit. This is both due to not having an Assembly and Executive in place, but it is also a result of some of the shenanigans going on in Westminster where party political manoeuvres and future career prospects seem to be taking precedence over the national interest.
"As Unionists we are seriously concerned with the uncertainty in the direction of travel of negotiations. The Prime Minister is keen to underline that her party is the Conservative and Unionist Party, meanwhile there are members in Westminster who are pursuing an agenda that I believe threatens our Union.
"It is time for MPs to stop negotiating amongst themselves on Brexit and concentrate on direct negotiations with the EU. We need a deal, we need a sensible deal and we need a deal which benefits all our people and protects the integrity of the United Kingdom against those who seek to use Brexit as a proxy to attempt to break up our nation. It's time to put the focus on the EU negotiators who have been conspicuously silent.
"Our message to the Prime Minister was that this part of the United Kingdom is as deserving of good governance as England, Scotland or Wales. We asked her to take control of the situation."
(CD)
The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RUSA) has described the latest fall in Northern Ireland's private sector construction activity as "another alarm bell for the wider economy".
Official statistics published on Thursday revealed construction output in NI for the first quarter of 2018 fell by 6% over the last 12 months.
The fall was driven by a marked slump in private sector activity, which was down 12% when compared with the same quarter last year. However, public sector work increased by 3% over the same period.
RSUA Director, Ciarán Fox, said the fall "suggests that Brexit and the absence of devolved Government has knocked private sector confidence and that investment is being held back as a result".
"Whilst public sector output has held up well over the last year we have serious concerns about the next 12 months due to uncertainty over which publicly funded projects are going to proceed to design stage and then on to site," he said.
"It is now vitally important that public sector clients provide specific details of which construction projects can proceed without Ministerial approval and which ones cannot."
NI Falls Further Behind On Relationship And Sex Education
Alliance Councillor Kate Nicholl has warned Northern Ireland is falling further and further behind the rest of the UK when it comes to developing relationship and sex education in schools.
The Belfast City Councillor made the comments as steps forward on the issue were made across England and Wales.
She said: "The UK government has taken major strides forward when it comes to standardising Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools, yet without an Executive in place Northern Ireland risks slipping further and further behind.
"Sex education in Northern Ireland is seriously lacking - along with leadership on this and many other issues. By failing to talk to children and young people about safe and healthy relationships, we are leaving them open to being completely unprepared for the relationships they will continue to have regardless. Rather than allowing them to confidently make informed choices, we are setting them up to make choices without all the relevant facts - a move that could lead to life changing outcomes."
PM Called To Bring An End To The Political Drift In NI
An Ulster Unionist delegation have called on the Prime Minister to take control of the situation in Northern Ireland to bring an end to the political drift.
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann MLA said: "Northern Ireland is being offered no certainty on Brexit. This is both due to not having an Assembly and Executive in place, but it is also a result of some of the shenanigans going on in Westminster where party political manoeuvres and future career prospects seem to be taking precedence over the national interest.
"As Unionists we are seriously concerned with the uncertainty in the direction of travel of negotiations. The Prime Minister is keen to underline that her party is the Conservative and Unionist Party, meanwhile there are members in Westminster who are pursuing an agenda that I believe threatens our Union.
"It is time for MPs to stop negotiating amongst themselves on Brexit and concentrate on direct negotiations with the EU. We need a deal, we need a sensible deal and we need a deal which benefits all our people and protects the integrity of the United Kingdom against those who seek to use Brexit as a proxy to attempt to break up our nation. It's time to put the focus on the EU negotiators who have been conspicuously silent.
"Our message to the Prime Minister was that this part of the United Kingdom is as deserving of good governance as England, Scotland or Wales. We asked her to take control of the situation."
(CD)
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27 June 2013
NIPSA Slam Chancellor's Budget Cuts
Public sector trade union, NIPSA, has criticised Chancellor George Osborne following Wednesday afternoon's Spending Review. Yesterday, Mr Osborne revealed Northern Ireland's budget for the year 2015/16 is to be cut by 2% to £9.6bn.
NIPSA Slam Chancellor's Budget Cuts
Public sector trade union, NIPSA, has criticised Chancellor George Osborne following Wednesday afternoon's Spending Review. Yesterday, Mr Osborne revealed Northern Ireland's budget for the year 2015/16 is to be cut by 2% to £9.6bn.
18 January 2012
UK Govt. Criticised Over Public-Sector Job Cuts
Northern Ireland will be the UK region hardest hit by public sector job cuts. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that 26,000 public sector jobs would go in NI by 2017. It said the executive must take firm action to defend the NI economy from the coalition government's plans.
UK Govt. Criticised Over Public-Sector Job Cuts
Northern Ireland will be the UK region hardest hit by public sector job cuts. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that 26,000 public sector jobs would go in NI by 2017. It said the executive must take firm action to defend the NI economy from the coalition government's plans.
05 February 2008
Scam Scam, and More Scam As NI Loses Millions
Over £100 million is lost in Northern Ireland every year from scams, according to government research. Every year, thousands of bargain hungry consumers fall victim to mass marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics, get-rich-quick schemes and miracle health cures.
Scam Scam, and More Scam As NI Loses Millions
Over £100 million is lost in Northern Ireland every year from scams, according to government research. Every year, thousands of bargain hungry consumers fall victim to mass marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics, get-rich-quick schemes and miracle health cures.
08 November 2010
Faltering Construction Sector Leads Decline
There's more gloom today with news that the Irish Republic's construction sector declined at a faster pace in October than previous months as uncertainty led to a fall in new business.
Faltering Construction Sector Leads Decline
There's more gloom today with news that the Irish Republic's construction sector declined at a faster pace in October than previous months as uncertainty led to a fall in new business.
14 October 2010
Economy Needs Fillip - Not Cut-backs
Stimulating enterprise and trade must be a priority going beyond public sector cuts says banking economists. According to the Northern Bank's Chief Economist Angela McGowan, (pictured) decision-makers need to bring forward measures for growing the private sector alongside anticapated proposals to slim the public sector.
Economy Needs Fillip - Not Cut-backs
Stimulating enterprise and trade must be a priority going beyond public sector cuts says banking economists. According to the Northern Bank's Chief Economist Angela McGowan, (pictured) decision-makers need to bring forward measures for growing the private sector alongside anticapated proposals to slim the public sector.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
