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John Simpson

Nelson McCausland is backing welfare reform

Quiet diplomacy the way forward for welfare reform

Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development, estimates that the immediate impact of universal credit is that an extra £110m will be spent in Northern Ireland.

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Inside John Simpson

Company Shapshot: Randox Laboratories Ltd.

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

In the last decade Randox Laboratories has grown and gained an international market for an increasing range of diagnostic kits which are increasingly important in laboratory applications to aid medical assessment and treatment.
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Young people must grab chance on offer from work experience

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

The proportion of young adults who are unemployed is much higher than those in older age groups.
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Company Snapshot: Ulster Carpet Mills

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Ulster Carpet Mills has reported a significant recovery in business performance in the year to March 2012. The company is Northern Ireland's largest manufacturer of Axminster and Wilton carpets with its main factory in Portadown.
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Company Snapshot: Coolkeeragh ESB Ltd.

Tuesday, 2 October 2012

In 2011, the Coolkeeragh ESB gas fired electricity generating plant owned by the Irish parent company ESB was the second largest source of electricity generated in Northern Ireland.
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Companies still face problems in navigating procurement minefield

Tuesday, 2 October 2012

The procurement systems, by which the public sector in Northern Ireland spends almost £3bn each year to purchase a wide range of goods and services are well articulated.
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Gauging funding for our public transport

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

In the year to March 2012, Government support for Translink services cost a record £185.2m. Of this amount, £108.8m was towards capital investment and £76.4m towards operating costs. In the same year, passengers paying fares contributed £120.4m.
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Company Snapshot: Translink Ltd.

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Translink is the trading name for the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, parent company for NI Railways, Ulsterbus and Metrobus.
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Focus at Lindsay Cars on returning company to profit

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Lindsay Cars is a main dealer for new Ford cars in a large part of the Northern Ireland vehicle market. Trading in 2011 has proved, as described by the directors, as disappointing.
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Commission's new head expresses her optimism

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Colette FitzGerald is the newly appointed head of the European Commission office in Northern Ireland.
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Stormont cannot afford to sit idle while others move tax issue forward

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

What devolution of taxation powers to Wales, or Scotland, or Northern Ireland would be politically and economically desirable?
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Company snapshot: Cooneen Textiles Group Ltd.

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Cooneen Textiles and its subsidiary companies have a business address in Fivemiletown although the registered office is in Broughshane.
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How competitive is our economy? It's a slightly taxing matter

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Business competitiveness matters, for each business and, in total, for the whole economy. Introducing devolved lower corporation tax is essentially an argument that Northern Ireland needs to be made more competitive.
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Company Snapshot: Isaac Agnew Holdings Ltd

Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Isaac Agnew Holdings was one of the largest vehicle retailing companies in Northern Ireland.
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Company Snapshot: Northern Ireland Water

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Northern Ireland Water (NIW) is the Government-owned trading company with responsibility for the provision of water and sewerage services throughout Northern Ireland.
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NIW has liquid assets but route to profit proves difficult to chart

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Northern Ireland Water (NIW) is trading profitably. The organisation is meeting the financial targets and most of the performance targets set by the Utility Regulator and the Department for Regional Development (DRD).
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Why UK deficit plan has real value when it comes to exchange rates

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

The exchange rates for sterling with the US dollar and the euro are two of the most critical influences on business in Northern Ireland and also on the cost of living.
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Company Snapshot: Belleek Pottery Ltd.

Tuesday, 21 August 2012

Fermanagh-based Belleek Pottery operates in an unusual company structure.
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Why the real hard work only starts now for our students

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

For 20,000 young adults, this week marks a critical stage in their preparation for adult life. Their decisions, taken individually, will have a critical collective impact on the social, cultural and economic future of this community.
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Company Snapshot: Lissan Coal Co. Ltd.

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Lissan Coal is a large and diverse family-controlled business, headquartered in Cookstown.
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Tax rate deal is finely poised

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Ministers now have a difficult decision to make. The deal to allow Northern Ireland to offer business, new and old, a corporation tax rate of 12.5% is finely poised. Should the Treasury deal be accepted?
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