Analysis

January 2021

Richard Gray Opinion M&A indicators still good for companies, according to Richard Gray

As the coronavirus pandemic continue to affect all aspects of life, it might be assumed that mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in Northern Ireland ground to a halt in 2020.

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John Simpson Opinion Brexit tangle thus far pleases no one

For Ministers, tackling the immediate problems posed by the pandemic must take precedence.

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Richard Murphy Opinion What lies ahead for energy sector in 2021

After the year we have all just experienced - or at times endured - gentler times ahead become very attractive again.

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Margaret Canning Opinion Tough start for Northern Ireland Protocol as Brexit realities begin to bite, from squabbles to supermarket shortages

Unseemly political rows are nothing new for us, but the start of the Northern Ireland Protocol on New Year's Eve has also ushered in delayed consumer deliveries and empty supermarket shelves.

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December 2020

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Margaret Canning Opinion How Northern Ireland businesses handled nightmare year with double whammy of Covid and Brexit

Business has faced its most difficult year, with tough decisions and nimble action required to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

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John Simpson Opinion Let’s look ahead cautiously to recovery

Life in Northern Ireland during 2020 has not been easy. Indeed, compared to earlier years, 2020 has been uncomfortable and challenging.

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Paul Stapleton Opinion NIE Networks lighting the spark for green recovery

As year end draws near, there can be no doubting 2020 has been a year like no other.

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John Simpson Opinion Pluses of Northern Ireland Protocol remain to be seen

Next year should be less fraught than 2020. In January 2020 there was no firm evidence of the possible arrival of Covid-19 and little suspicion that a no-deal Brexit would become a major threat to businesses in Northern Ireland.

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John Simpson Opinion Mutual Energy’s journey to profits

Mutual Energy was once part of the former government owned Northern Ireland Electricity Supply Co, which was privatised into several separate businesses some years ago.

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Simon Hamilton Opinion Belfast can bounce back from setbacks

In the space of less than 24 hours last week, the tangible impact of Covid-19 and the Executive's repeated lockdown restrictions on the retail sector hit home hard.

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Ivan Little Opinion Covid's sinking Belfast faster than IRA ever could

Walking around parts of Belfast one afternoon last week, I was half expecting the tumbleweed to come rolling down the street.

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Margaret Canning Opinion Demise of Arcadia and doubts over Debenhams' future could sound death knell for Northern Ireland high street as we know it

We've been hearing warnings about the death of the high street for at least a decade now, since the ravages of the credit crunch killed off one-time stalwarts like Woolworths.

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Matthew Howse Opinion Return of 'Crown Preference' in Northern Ireland

2020 is not the only thing that is coming to an end. After a period of ranking as an unsecured creditor in the insolvency of a company, HMRC will become a secondary preferential creditor from today.

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John Simpson Opinion Still a lot of uncertainty in store for Northern Ireland economy

Even the pessimists should now plan for a new normal. The economy will function again without special Covid-19 measures and the debate will centre on how we restore output in the regional economy and find new employment and new employers to replace the businesses which have closed, or downsized.

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November 2020

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Esmond Birnie Opinion Pay freeze will hit Northern Ireland hard, but boosted defence spend may be boon

Almost 40 years ago Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said: "Pennies don't fall from Heaven, they must be earned here on Earth."

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Margaret Canning Opinion Devil is in the detail with Stormont coronavirus voucher giveaway

The question on (nearly) everyone’s lips is - how will you spend yours?

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John Downing Opinion Four possible Brexit outcomes with just 36 days remaining

"Breakthrough or breakdown by the end of this week." That is the assessment of one veteran Brussels diplomat as Brexit finally really is close to ending its noisy four-year journey of tedium.

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John Simpson Opinion Joe Biden brings new era for Northern Ireland business

US President-Elect Joe Biden could have an important role to play in helping business recovery in Northern Ireland.

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John Simpson Opinion Long-term wounds face NI economy

After Covid-19, the "new normal" for the local economy will not be as good as the "old normal". The pandemic has brought many major temporary problems from which there will be partial recoveries.

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John Mulgrew Opinion Housing market can be foundation of NI economic recovery

I've had a strange sense that I've been slowly turning into the binocular-wielding late Jimmy Stewart in the 1954 classic Hitchcock thriller Rear Window.

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Jim Curran: Pull on angel wings and help economy

Anyone who follows the news doesn't need me to tell them that the full force of Covid-19 is being felt keenly in the economy, with many businesses restricted from trading and people losing their jobs.

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Chris Kane: Office as we know it will never be same

Do many people miss the daily gridlock of the Westlink, the drudgery of the clogged Ormeau Road or the battle to get a seat on the Bangor train before trudging from Lanyon Place Station into Belfast offices?

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John Simpson Opinion Clarity is needed over renewables

Northern Ireland is enjoying the increased contribution from wind farms and solar energy on a scale well above what was expected less than a decade ago.

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Margaret Canning Opinion Furlough scheme extension will bring relief but the threat of job losses still looms over economy

The extension of the furlough scheme across the UK is a relief for businesses all over Northern Ireland and for their workers.

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Margaret Canning Opinion US election 2020: NI will retain its special relationship with US regardless of winner

We know the 'special relationship' between the UK and US has waxed and waned over various White House administrations and that any future president Biden is expected to keep Prime Minister Boris Johnson out in the cold for a bit before any renewal of vows.

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David Fry Opinion Investment-generating reform drive should be extended to NI Water

Yesterday's statement by Communities Minister Caral Ni Chuilin was very significant.

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Margaret Canning Opinion Yet again it's lowest paid workers suffering most painful hit in pocket

This year's Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings has sounded the alarm on how fast-acting the Covid-19 pandemic has been in hitting the economy. And it's in a way we can all relate to - our pay packets.

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Esmond Birnie Opinion Economic consequences for NI after US presidential election are significant

Whether Trump or Biden there will be significant economic consequences for us. Here are some scenarios:

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John Simpson Opinion Shorts' sale reassuring in tough times

The investment deal for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings to buy the shares of Short Bros. plc was announced just a year ago, on October 31, 2019. Last week, on October 30, 2020, the amended deal was finalised.

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October 2020

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John Simpson Opinion Time for Northern Ireland to tackle climate change

Slowly but surely the evidence on the effects of climate change is becoming more persuasive. There are big problems in making collective decisions about what should be done.