Analysis

February 2020

Opinion Dr Esmond Birnie: Scrutinising Northern Ireland's sizeable fiscal deficit is interesting

Tucked away, five days before Christmas, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the 2018-19 data on the fiscal transfers. That is, for each of the 12 major UK regions how did the sum of money raised through taxes in that region compare to the level of public spending which benefits that region? In other words, which regions get more out of the UK exchequer than they put in?

---

Opinion Esmond Birnie: Bombardier news helps increase certainty for the local workforce

After several trying years and repeated rounds of job losses, some good news relating to Northern Ireland's largest aircraft manufacturing firm Bombardier, now becoming Spirit AeroSystems.

---

Opinion Andrew Dolliver, EY Ireland : Warning signs for UK economy as number of profit alerts increases

The headwinds for business in 2019 were fast and furious - Brexit, trade wars, international tax reform.

---

Opinion John Simpson: Running out of reasons why Northern Ireland needs more financial aid

Northern Ireland Executive ministers face a continuing critical assessment from UK ministers and the Treasury.

---

Opinion James Donnelly : Looking at the trends behind Northern Ireland corporate deals

It's great to be busy doing deals. It creates an energy within our teams and injects confidence into the market. However, we recognise our success is built upon the drive and ambition of our clients, so for Northern Ireland to record an uplift in activity, given the particular challenges and period of uncertainty experienced by local companies, makes 2019 all the more remarkable.

---

Opinion Richard Ramsey: Climate emergency has rocketed right up Northern Ireland agenda

One thing that has taken me a bit by surprise is the speed at which climate change has moved front and centre in economics. By-and-large, the environment and global warming were niche issues in business and financial debate. This was even the case early in 2019.

---

Opinion Jane Hollway : Northern Ireland legal innovation director on choosing between barristers and bots

If you could choose between a barrister and a bot, which would you prefer? Twenty years ago, there would have been no contest between the two. In five years, perhaps there will be.

---

Opinion Richard Kirk: How apprenticeships can offer hope for the future

When our politicians returned to Stormont a few weeks ago public relief was matched by a sobering realisation that there was much to address. There is a sense now, not of looking back but looking forward.

---

Opinion John Simpson: Getting post-Brexit trading policy right is vital for Northern Ireland

Legally, the departure from the EU has happened. Initially, in a period of transition, revised operational decisions must be made. In the next year government and business managers will be busy adjusting to the new environment.

---

January 2020

Opinion Aodhan Connolly: Today is only the start of a long process of seeking out new trade deals and the prospect of new costs for Northern Ireland

So here we are after almost four years of discussion, debate, stagnation, false starts and near misses. Brexit day is upon us. However, today does not signal the end of Brexit but the start of a long process of the UK looking for trade deals, not only with the EU but with countries across the world.

---

Opinion John Simpson: 'Free-port' concept could bring many complexities

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, hopes to launch 10 cities in the UK as 'free-ports'.

---

Opinion Maeve Fisher, Senior Associate, Mills Selig: Don't just sit and wait for your rates bill...

If you haven't heard about the new levels of commercial rates for non-domestic premises in Northern Ireland over the past few weeks, where have you been?

---

Opinion Lisa Wilson: Is there anything new in the New Decade, New Approach deal?

The start of this year saw the New Decade, New Approach deal agreed to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland.

---

Opinion Paul MacFlynn: Should more revenue now be sourced from Northern Ireland rates system?

The return of a Northern Ireland Executive earlier this month was greeted as a big step forward and a chance to tackle some serious policy issues that have festered over the last three years.

---

Opinion Michael Hall, Managing Partner, EY: Return of Stormont Executive is good news but just the beginning

The return of the NI Executive after three long years away is excellent news and has been enthusiastically welcomed across the business community. However, simply being back at the desk is just the start, the hard work begins now.

---

Opinion John Simpson: Tighter scrutiny of funding for the Stormont Executive

The Northern Ireland Executive is back, the Assembly is functioning, the agreed agenda is ambitious, large and demanding. The financing for the Executive is now to be supervised by a new independent Fiscal Council.

---

Opinion Esmond Birnie: How Stormont could raise money to fund public services

Practically the only tax the Assembly currently controls which could be used to raise more revenue is the Regional Rate.

---

Opinion Jamie Delargy : The energy issues facing us in 2020

A new decade doesn’t necessarily usher in a new era, but as far as energy is concerned 2020 is set to be the start of a revolution in how we heat our homes, travel to work and transport our goods.

---

Opinion Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive, Retail NI: Rates a massive challenge for new Finance Minister

It is safe to say that our new Finance Minister Conor Murphy has a very big in-tray of policy challenges. Top of that list is fixing business rates and addressing the huge concerns with the 2020 rates revaluation.

---

Opinion Neil Gibson: Economy Watch: The economic issues to occupy us during 2020s

The end of a decade is always a time to reflect. My children are shocked that this is the sixth decade in which I have been alive and I refuse to accept it is 20 years since the new century celebrations were in full swing and the millennium bug turned out not to be quite the world-ender it was billed to be.

---

Opinion John Simpson: Brexit will be done so let's now use it to our advantage

For too long, we were guilty of hoping that Brexit could be avoided. Now it is happening, the transition will start and the full rigour of leaving the EU will soon become a living experience. The amended UK-EU withdrawal agreement, negotiated by Boris Johnson, is nearly in place.

---

Opinion Stephen Kelly: Imperfect deal has a lot to admire, so let's get it done

If there is anything which our business community has done of real value for our political leaders in the past three years, it is to protect and promote the virtues and value of pragmatism.

---

Opinion Aodhan Connolly: Brexit deal means a real glimmer of hope for progress in 2020

Let's be honest, 2019 didn't do the business world in Northern Ireland any favours. All of us were marched to the top of the hill several times as Brexit deadlines approached, only to be marched back down to uncertainty after spending millions of pounds in preparations.

---

John Simpson: We may wait some time for action after report

Evidence from three recent large capital projects shows the financial consequences of cost overruns. At the time of writing this report, the Auditor General said that:

---

December 2019

Analysis: How pay differs across Northern Ireland public and private sectors

Managing public sector pay questions has become more complex as the UK government now tries to move away from the austerity constraints of recent years.

---

November 2019

Gallery

Aodhan Connolly: Manifestos of Tories, Labour and Lib Dems 'leave lot to be desired for Northern Ireland'

The general election high drama is truly upon us and while the majority of folk here are focused on the local party manifestos, the business community has been mulling over what the Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives' great plans mean for Northern Ireland.

---

Dispelling the myths around pay scales and what we really earn

When you think about how much you are paid for working, do you feel rich, poor or just plain average? Following BBC's Question Time last week, a lively online discussion ensued online about what it means to be well-off.

---

Skills shortage continues to dominate market

If you are one of the 79% of NI-based employers who said they expect to hire additional staff in the next year then you will have found that this year's Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends report provides much food for thought.

---

Key Northern Ireland sectors under threat from limits on EU labour

Post-Brexit the implementation of changes in UK rules on the recruitment of non-UK workers to take jobs in Northern Ireland is casting a shadow over business prospects for several important parts of the local economy.

---

John Simpson: Prospects of real business rates reform look unlikely

The chance to offer ideas to improve business rates ended yesterday. Hopes for radical reform have been stimulated but the prospects for radical change are less dramatic.