GDP

James Disney-May

Best countries for tech investment revealed

Irish economists often claim better living standards in the Republic of Ireland

Graham Gudgin: How Ireland’s ‘tax scam’ distorts living standard comparisons

As a devolved government mainly concerned with spending public money as opposed to securing the funding for that spending through its own tax policies, our devolved government at Stormont has a built-in institutional bias towards high spending

Esmond Birnie: Political populism is a threat to fiscal stability

It is telling that the Royal Navy has now been tasked to protect vital subsea infrastructure, writes Steve Aiken

Steve Aiken - We must be ready to defend our nation

A new report from Microsoft Ireland and Trinity College Dublin Business School reveals that AI Adoption in Northern Ireland (NI) has surged, with 88% of organisations reporting that they are now using AI in some form for work purposes. Pictured is Catherine Doyle, general manager, Microsoft Ireland

AI adoption in NI surges with 88% of businesses now using it in the workplace

The new development will operate in conjunction with the current site of PRM at Rathdown Road in Lisburn. Pic credit: Google

Green light for £25m chilled food factory at former ‘burn house’ site

Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington last month.

'Grave' US tariffs may make unity 'much lower priority' for Dublin

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivering her spring statement to MPs today in the House of Commons, London

Economic growth forecast halved as Reeves blames global instability

A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter equipped with the Martlet missile system developed by Thales. Pic: Ministry of Defence

Ireland failing to contribute to security of threatened Europe, says UUP Lord

(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Business in 2 minutes: Huge economic blow for Rachel Reeves

Irish soldiers carrying a Javelin missile system during a Deployment Mission Readiness Exercise for the 123rd Infantry Battalion at Coolmooney Camp in Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow, October 19, 2023: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Ireland needs to drop military 'freeloading farce' or it will be 'pariah'

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast (image from QUB website)

Work begins on new clinical research centre next to Belfast City Hospital

Construction work begins on groundbreaking City Deal centre. Pictured is Professor Ian Young, chief scientific advisor to the Northern Ireland Department of Health, councillor Micky Murray, Lord Mayor of Belfast, professor Sir Ian Greer, president and vice-chancellor of Queen's University, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and professor Judy Bradley, Director of iREACH Health

Construction work begins on groundbreaking £64m City Deal centre in Belfast

Some non-American observers express bewilderment about how a character like Trump has managed to garner the “religious vote” in the US consisting of white evangelical Christians

Esmond Birnie: We’re going to have to deal with Trump

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' October Budget raised the National Insurance tax on jobs. At a UK-wide level this represents an extra £24bn on an employer annual labour cost bill of £1,300bn or a 1.8% increase

Esmond Birnie: NI and GB teeter on the edge of a recession

Lord Rogan

UUP peer questions Republic of Ireland’s role in protecting undersea cables
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan has pledged to table further Parliamentary Questions after a Government Minister failed to reveal how much UK taxpayers were having to pay to protect undersea cables in Irish waters from the threat of sabotage.
Barry White

Esmond Birnie: Harris and Trump both present concerns for world economy

The war in and around the Ukraine, with its resultant breakdown of the international systems of checks and balances, has also fundamentally driven changes in how nations and alliances now need to defend themselves

Steve Aiken: Wars in Israel and Ukraine show the need to invest in security

Letters to editor

Letter: Ben Lowry did not take account of key facts in his critique of pensions

It is significant that the NI political parties are as one in a plea for 'fair funding' from London - they mean more funding, writes Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: Confidence on affordability of a united Ireland is flawed

The cost of redeveloping Casement Park in west Belfast for the Euro 2028 soccer tournament could be more than £300m. Esmond Birnie looks at the benefits of Casement Park stadium

Esmond Birnie: UK government should exercise care in case of Casement Park

Lawrence O’Hara of Begbies Traynor in Northern Ireland

Rising financial distress in Northern Ireland in second quarter of 2024

Northern Ireland is leading the UK’s recovery with positive signs of growth, according to the latest PwC UK Economic Outlook. Pictured is Cat McCusker, regional market leader for PwC Northern Ireland

NI leads UK regions’ economic growth, as government inherits a strong economy

If fans stayed at home to watch the Euros on TV rather than go out, that could reduce spending and thus GDP growth, writes Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: Putting impact of Euros on economy under the microscope

Headquartered in Belfast, OCO Global's report revealed the growth trends of 11 regional UK cities over the past decade and found that Belfast enjoyed the fastest growth in GDP per head (47% between 2013-2022). Pictured is Mark O’Connell, executive chairman of OCO Global

Report: UK regional city report identifies Belfast as ‘booming’

DUP Leader Gavin Robinson (centre) with the party's Westminster candidates at the launch of the DUP's manifesto at Danny Blanchflower Stadium in east Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

DUP manifesto focuses on Westminster delivery

The devolved executive at Stormont failed to operate fully for over 40% of the time since 1999. This must have had some negative impact on economic performance, writes Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: Devolution at 25 – not much to celebrate economically
This year marks 25 years since the birth of contemporary devolution in the UK (admittedly, NI had its own devolved Parliament during 1921-72). Whether such Scotland, Wales and NI devolution has worked to strengthen or weaken the UK is too early to say.
Esmond Birnie

At the start of the year, the DUP endorsed a deal with the UK government allowing it to end a long-running boycott of Stormont. The collapse of the institutions was completely the result of the Conservative government’s actions, writes R G McDowell

Letter: Stormont boycott was a legitimate protest

Ukraine knows too well the importance of being able to protect itself when it is a target. It has been engulfed in a war with Russia since February 2022

Ruth Dudley Edwards: UK’s informal protection of the Republic no longer enough

The Bank of England in the City of London

UK economy exits recession after 0.6% growth in latest quarter

Lord Rogan.

UUP peer calls for increased UK defence spending

A new report by two Irish economists looks at the financial reality of Northern Ireland separating from the rest of the UK and becoming part of an Irish state. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Separation from UK would involve 'major costs' for NI

File photo dated 19/02/23 of the East Link toll bridge at Dublin port.

Ireland’s economy expected to grow over next two years, experts say

Dr Loretta O’Sullivan, EY Ireland chief economist

EY: NI to expand by 0.7% in 2024, but job growth expected to 'stall'

The Bank of England has made a new announcement on the interest rate. (Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Bank of England announces that interest rate will remain at 5.25%

Morning View

Editorial: Northern Ireland enjoys very generous financial support from London

The UK's economy has grown by 0.2% in August, with car manufacturing leading the economic boost over the past three months. (Credit: Getty Images)

UK economy grew by 0.2% in August as service sector provides boost

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

'Dignified silence may be better': Ian Paisley hits back at Leo Varadkar

The primary reason most of Ireland effectively voted to leave the union with GB in the 1918 general election was that the union wasn’t working for most of the people of the island, writes Gearoid O'Morain

Letter: Ludicrous that Ireland would want to return to British rule

Some claim the protocol has helped Northern Ireland’s economy but over the more recent two+ years, those coinciding with NI’s unique post-Brexit trading arrangements (January 2021+), NI growth has lagged the UK average, writes Dr Esmond Birnie

Esmond Birnie: It's wrong to say NI economy is outgrowing the UK average

Windsor Framework & Duty Free: Northern Ireland's airports unite to call on UK and EU Governments to return duty free shopping. Pictured are the retailing facilities at Belfast International

Northern Ireland’s airports call for return of duty free for flights to the EU

Edwin Poots

'Whether economy or moral issues this Conservative government is bankrupt'

US special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs Joe Kennedy III speaks to the media at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Belfast. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

US special envoy Joe Kennedy pledges ‘to help focus on people'

Of the fathers surveyed by a recent YouGov poll, 62% said they would take more leave if the rate of statutory paternity pay (SPP) increased

Third of UK fathers take no time off due to 'woeful' paternity leave rights

In February, when the last report was produced, the Bank said it expects interest rates to fall sharply over the rest of the year

Interest rate rise expected as inflation still high

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at Queen’s yesterday repeated inaccurate statements about Northern Ireland’s GDP doubling during 1998-2023. The Windsor Framework actually reduces Stormont’s ability to adopt appropriate economic development policies. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Belfast Agreement @25: NI hasn't realised devolution's potential - Esmond Birnie

UK economy records zero growth in February - ONS

A promotional graphic for Lowden Guitars, based in Saintfield

Ulster guitar firm which make named by government in global trade deal PR

Letters to editor

Letter: In the Alliance Party, our glass is half full about the future

UK interest rates since 2007 as set by the Bank of England.

NI economist backs Bank of England interest rate hike

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England.

Bank of England governor's plea on prices as he warns of inflation danger

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivering his Budget to the House of Commons in London

Budget: UK economy is 'on right track' and will not enter technical recession

A report claims that the size of NI's GDP has more than doubled since the 1998 Belfast Agreement but this far exaggerates the scale of improvement. Indicators such as population growth or employment or tourist numbers show that the turning points in performance came before 1998. Photo: John GilesPA Wire

Economist: It far exaggerates things to say that 1998 deal doubled NI economy

Belfast firm, OCO Global was set up shortly after the Good Friday Agreement was signed by Mark O’Connell who argues that its time to “double down” on the transformative effect which the deal has had in Northern Ireland

25 years on...Belfast firm doubles down on the Good Friday Agreement

Uncertainty over trading arrangements has been caused by the NI Protocol

Northern Ireland economy 'transformed' in 25 years since Good Friday Agreement

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