NEWS
NORTH-SOUTH INTERCONNECTOR RETAIL NI EXPECTED TO BOOST NI ECONOMY URGES BY JOHN MULGREW PROGRESS AT STORMONT The interconnector will see 85 miles of overhead lines and pylons connecting Northern Ireland to the Republic.
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£200m electricity project linking Northern Ireland and the Republic has been given the green light. The North-South interconnector, which will go through counties Tyrone, Armagh, Cavan, Monaghan and Meath, will meet the energy needs of households and businesses here, it has been claimed. The Northern Ireland element of the scheme was granted approval by the Department for Infrastructure last month, following a review by the Planning Appeals Commission. The project will see 85 miles of overhead cables erected, with work expected to begin this year. Ellvena Graham, president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the project has been among “the top infrastructure priorities for our members since 2009”. “We therefore welcome the department’s decision to grant permission for the project despite the lack of an Infrastructure Minister at Stormont,” she said. “It is an action which will significantly speed up the delivery of the project.”
Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said the decision was “excellent news for our economy”. “It is an investment in the future of our energy infrastructure, securing electricity supply and, in the longer term, lower energy bills for our members,” he said. “Despite no minister in place, the Department for Infrastructure made the right call to give full planning permission for this vital scheme.” Roger Pollen of the Federation of Small Business Northern Ireland said the interconnector had the “potential to ensure security of supply, while at the same time creating downward pressure on energy prices and relieving the cost burden on small businesses”. Angela McGowan, director of the Confederation of British Industry in Northern Ireland, said it “represents a critical piece of infrastructure for the Northern Ireland economy. “It offers the potential to secure our electricity supply for years to come, drive down energy prices for everyone and deliver tangible benefits to an array of important sectors,” she said.
ith political talks to restore the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive reconvening in late January, business groups representing the sectors of retail, hospitality and manufacturing have urged political parties and government to go the extra mile to restore power sharing. In a joint statement, Glyn Roberts, Colin Neill and Stephen Kelly – the chief executives of, respectively, Retail NI, Hospitality Ulster and Manufacturing NI, said: ‘We wish the political parties and two governments every success as the political talks are reconvened. Having no government for over a year, with a care and maintenance administration and emergency budgets has not helped the economy. ‘As we fast approach Brexit, we require an effective local government and political stability to retain existing businesses and attract potential investors. Quite simply, political instability is bad for business. ‘We need our government back to meet head on the challenges of Brexit and to create an environment in which work can be created including reforming business rates, investing in infrastructure and creating world-class skills and training. ‘Our united call on behalf of our members to talks participants is crystal clear: don’t let us down.’
SAINSBURY’S SHAKE-UP COULD LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS RECOGNISED IN 2018 NEW YEAR AFFECT UP TO 130 POSTS IN NI has announced a management shake-up at its HONOURS supermarkets, including its 14 Northern Ireland stores. Sainsbury’s The retailer is consulting with staff over plans that will see the number of senior in-store posts slimmed down and replaced with fewer management roles. Affected staff, thought to run into the thousands, will be given the choice of applying for the new roles, accepting a more junior position or facing redundancy consultation. A spokeswoman said there were no “job cuts” involved in the announcements. Sainsbury’s said the changes at both its supermarkets and convenience stores are “designed to meet the challenges of today’s retail environment” and will result in a more “efficient” structure.
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orthern Ireland business people recognised for their contribution to the economy in the New Year Honours list include Jack Dobson, co-founder of Co Tyrone meat firm Dunbia, who receives an OBE for services to economic development. In the list, he’s described as a group executive director for Dunbia and a consultant to Cranswick (Ballymena) - a subisdiary of UK plc Cranswick, which bought Dunbia’s pork business just over a year ago. Ellvena Graham, president of the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has received an OBE for services to economic development and the advancement of women in business. 5