Belfast Telegraph

City of Derry Airport is regarded by many in the city, including its civic leaders, as vital infrastructure. That view has been supported by the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK and Irish governments. It has, though, received strong criticisms, not least within the Belfast Telegraph – with some commentators arguing that the costs outweigh […]

The cross-border north-west region is the weakest both within Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland. Statistics for unemployment, low wages and deprivation are similar in Donegal to those in the Derry and Strabane council area. The two areas also have too few school leavers going into higher and further education for the health

Relationships with bloc to remain uncertain as future government likely to be more antagonistic to Brussels and could pull out of agreement. The combination of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump as globally powerful leaders has had a seismic impact on European politics. Suddenly security is a major concern across the continent — including for the

The bulk of public money is spent in greater Belfast area, leading to serious variations in economical and social outcomes. Surely the purpose of government is to improve the wellbeing of the population as a whole, not just a part. Investment is needed to produce returns that can be measured in economic, social or environmental

Beware schemes that offer apparently too good to be true savings. And beware, too, schemes that so lack transparency that the consumer may even feel unaware of having joined them.   A relative of mine recently contacted me to advise that she was being charged £18 a month for no obvious reason. When she looked

Carefully checking bank and credit card statements is essential – but easily overlooked. Doing so has saved me several hundred pounds over recent months. In February of this year I received my monthly statement from American Express. The total was a lot higher than usual and I was shocked to see a charge of £510

The economic inactivity rate in Northern Ireland is over 5% higher than in the UK as a whole – 26.6%, compared to 21.5%. The rates are highest – above 32% – in the Derry City/Strabane and Belfast council areas. There are various causes of economic inactivity – the long health waiting lists and higher rates

Derry and Donegal are like conjoined twins, bound together by economic, social and cultural links. Policy-makers seeking to improve the economy and quality of life in one must do so jointly with the other. Derry was, in effect, the capital city of the North West region before partition and it remains so today, despite the

“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