“The press takes [Donald Trump] literally but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally.” This observation back in 2016 by journalist Salena Zito has become emblematic of the once and future President of the United States. It makes it almost impossible to assess which of his apparent ‘promises’ he intends to keep […]
Capital investment is essential for economic growth and to upgrade our infrastructure. This is especially the case with NI Water, whose works backlog is constraining housing and industrial development and urban regeneration. Public spending on infrastructure is limited by spending rules self-imposed by the UK government, concerned about fiscal credibility in global markets. High levels
My mother died two decades ago from Motor Neurone Disease. I was living in Derry, with primary caring responsibility for three young children. The guilt of not helping to look after her in those final months lingers with me. It was my father who provided that caring role. But it could never be adequate to
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60e2f74aa294f21e8105a8ae/t/66d8736c34ef3842594ed609/1725461364063/North+West+Economic+Region+By+Paul+Gosling+%28Combined%29.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60e2f74aa294f21e8105a8ae/t/66ace77bed14b84f6cf17f2b/1722607488144/Health+Services+North+And+South+Paul+Gosling.pdf
Comparing health systems – Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland Read More »
Innovation should be central to the way any organisation operates. But commitment to historic spending priorities can kill innovation. If your budgeting is essentially that what has been brought forward is then carried forward, you are killing opportunities for the organisation to change. Nowhere is this more true than in government – or, more specifically,
Zero based budgeting – how to take tough spending decisions Read More »
Who is Better Off – the Irish, the Northern Irish, or the British?: A regional economic comparison Introduction Northern Ireland is one of the two economically weakest regions of the UK, alongside the North East of England. By contrast, the Republic of Ireland has one of the most dynamic economies in the European Union.
Discussion about a ‘border poll’ arises on social media every day, usually on multiple occasions. It is almost as frequent in mainstream media. The constitutional future of Northern Ireland has become a common talking point. If it seems likely that a referendum on the future of Northern Ireland will take place at some point in
Who is better off – those in Northern Ireland, Ireland or Great Britain? Read More »
The latest Belfast Telegraph Top 100 most profitable Northern Ireland companies report provides a snapshot of what is happening within our economy. It illustrates both how far our economy has changed, but also the ways in which it has not. In some sectors, such as energy, it is in with the new, but not yet
Northern Ireland’s economy is a mix of the old and the new Read More »
Farming – on life support (The Gosling Report) Introduction The financial crisis in farming has persisted for many years. This has a severe negative impact on rural life, which is increasingly becoming marginalised despite the slow improvement in Northern Ireland’s wider economy. It is essential that Northern Ireland does more to support its rural life
Isolation and loneliness can be emotionally devastating for older adults. They are also a trigger for high levels of demand on health services, including on GPs and A&E. Reducing loneliness can cut costs for the NHS, as well as improve the quality of life for the people involved. Loneliness has a negative health impact
It is great to have government again, and many of the ministerial statements made so far have been very positive. One example is new Economy Minister Conor Murphy recognising how central comprehensive childcare provision is to female participation in the workforce, raising productivity and reducing economic inactivity. Similar comments were made by the incoming First