Presidents' Club

Ireland Brothers Inc. Who's in? Down to business (over a New York lunch!)

2010-03-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

The Ireland Brothers Inc. initiative is a fantastically simple yet game changing idea.

The Board and Promoters (private sector individuals with proven track records from across the island and the US) intend to attract up to 32 companies (stemming from the availability of 32 units of 500 to 750 sq. ft.) and create 32 relationships for them on the other side of the Atlantic. A relationship is defined as a Mentor, Capital Provider, Customer, Collaborative Partner or Supplier.

In addition we intend to instigate or stimulate 32 relationships on the other side of the Irish border, thus giving opportunity for companies from Limerick, Galway, Cork, Dublin, etc. as well as Belfast. We will also encourage relationships across the Irish Sea, recognising that the #1 trading partner of Northern Ireland is Great Britain, as is also the case for the Republic of Ireland.

The initiative is ready to roll, subject to locking down the Participation Agreements and will take 12 months from soup to nuts. In the meantime the work of identifying the best and brightest talent in Belfast (and beyond) is underway and relationships can and will be established before the Real Estate component is complete.

UI + Relationships = $£€

2010-03-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

Michael Flannery tells of the importance of pre-validated relationships in USA and partnering with the right people in exporting technology and Creative talent from Northern Ireland.

He explains the importance of the right relationships, smart capital and management team. Many fail by 'setting up shop with the wrong partners'. From experience Michael talks about 'de-risking' early stage companies.

He draws parallels between New York and what is going on in Belfast, with the broadband connections, ecosystem and great Universities.

Quoting Mary Meeker of Morgan Stanley we are told that by the year 2012 more people will access the internet using mobile technology than their PCs.

Belfast understands the importance of 'UI' - the User Interface - the importance of design and how people relate to and interact with Apps and their devices. The University of Ulster for example produces more creative industry graduates than any institution on the island of Ireland. Add to that the riches of Queen's University and the Belfast Metropolitan College (to be illustrative rather than all-inclusive) and you can see Belfast and Northern Ireland has much to offer.

Michael Flannery on a snowy Bryant Park

2010-03-03T06:53:00.001-08:00

I'm just back from a hectic but invigorating trip to New York City, Washington and Philadelphia.
We spent time with great Friends of Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
We tapped into an incredible ecosystem of technologists, creative industry professionals and financiers.

The mood was interesting (more anon), but the opportunity for the north was palpable.

I love New York, it neighbourhoods and ironically its subtleties. Michael Flannery, New York based Chairman of Ireland Brother Inc. and Patron Trustee of The Presidents' Club gave us this personal tour of a snowy Bryant Park.

Mark

Hurricane Quinn

2009-11-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

Someone said Hurricane Quinn hit landfall in County Antrim yesterday.

They were referring to the boundless energy of Christine Quinn, Speaker & President of New York City Council who has also been described as the third most important New Yorker!

Speaker Quinn has come to Belfast, influenced by Máirtín Ó Muilleoir of Belfast Media Group and myself at The Presidents' Club.

Christine is officiating at tonights prestigious Aisling Awards.....more about that again...

This morning Christine led a discussion at the Presidents' Club with an eclectic group of entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, fund managers, creative companies and professionals. She gave us ideas about innovative tax credits for small businesses, about lowest tender +10% to favour local businesses, about creative use of old buildings, of a community industrial kitchen to stimulate entrepreneurs in the food sector......

Many thanks to Belfast Media Group for the pictures and support. Good luck all with the Aisling Awards tonight ;-)

Cup half full or half empty?

2009-11-10T01:58:00.000-08:00

The old adage asks if you are a 'half full' or 'half empty' type.

I think it doesn't matter, just as long as you know where the bottle is!

I read and listened to details of the Ernst & Young report on the economy that indicates that Northern Ireland is in the midst of its worst ever slowdown and that the all-island economy will shrink by 7% this year.

The radio report said that Northern Ireland would be hardest hit because the island [Republic's] economy was so badly affected.

I say nonsense! Bring it on! We are going to have record new trade on the island; new contracts; new partnerships; new collaborations; new frontiers. Com'on, given the pre-existing low base of single island trade, improving attitude, a cost competitive environment and our new found confidence things can only look up!

The road is nearly complete. The train line is nearly fixed....

2010 is going to be a great year.....I know where the bottle is!

bringing home the bacon

2009-11-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

Well Tim Brundle and Gareth McAleese are now proudly staring in Apple's new iPhone Marketing initiative filmed in and around Cathedral Quarter.

This is a direct result of the visit of the so called Band of Brothers (so named by a senior Invest NI official) to Apple in Cupertino back in March when we promoted Belfast a City of 7 Quarters and in particular focused on Cathedral Quarter as a World Centre of Excellence in Creative Industry, Digital Content and Media-tech.

The University there produces more creative industry graduates than any institution on the island of Ireland. We have a legacy of great wireless and mobile industry technology companies. We have some of the most creative individuals and SMEs. We have fantastic people, broadband capacity swelled by Project Kelvin, brilliant hotels and café society city life.....

This is the future of Belfast....

This recognition by Apple is just a start, now let's see what more we can achieve in bringing home the bacon.

Well done boys.

Good for the Goose, Good for the Gander

2009-11-09T06:12:00.000-08:00

I was struck by two things:-

1) In driving to watch Ulster Rugby against Munster, it took me no time at all from Belfast to Dublin Airport/M50 and indeed onwards to Limerick and Shannon - and that is before the road is complete around Newry and between Nenagh and Limerick.

2) The piece on the front page and page 3 of today's Irish Times about Charges at Dublin Airport that may rise sharply.

I suggest the travelling public (business and leisure) may join the shoppers in increasing numbers in taking the opportunity to come north to fly from Belfast International and Belfast City Airports - as it takes no time at all from Dublin to either!

That said, I am also conscious that Gordon Brown is taking approx £100.30 in Airport Departure Tax (due to rise by another approx £15 in 2010) from an ordinary Coach passenger flying to NYC - compared to approx £64.30 in Dublin.

Business Class (the vital economic link that we must encourage ) is even worse at approx £145.30 compared with £64.30 ex-Dublin).

What an opportunity we have. I do hope that the Executive presses Gordon Brown - or perhaps Sir Reg Empey presses David Cameron to do something about this, to allow us to seize the day.

We have got to build a set of simple economic tools that will together make the north an attractive business proposition.

Maybe this will be a topic of discussion on Tuesday 24th November when The Presidents' Club hosts Conor Lenihan T.D., Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation & Natural Resources, Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

Members and guests will have an opportunity to quiz Minister Lenihan as to his Government's views of all-island business development and cooperation in important areas such as infrastructure, R&D and International Development.

The idea behind our Thought Leaders Series of events is that the leader 'moderates' (a good Presbyterian term!) discussion around a theme, rather than 'talks at' the audience.

If you have interest in attending (£25 contribution towards costs) or have questions for the Minister let me know!

Aisling Awards - Vote Presidents' Club.

2009-11-08T12:19:00.001-08:00

Click Here for Poll Online Survey
| Website Polls
| Email Marketing

| Crowdsourcing Software
View MicroPoll

Open Skys....Blah! WE WANT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

2009-11-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

I recently asked Barry Jackson of Continental Airlines how much Airport Departure Tax we are all paying for a seat when flying in his excellent back cabin to Newark.

I was staggered to hear the rates....Barry please let us all know the details. Also Barry, how does this compare with your what colleague Yvonne Muldoon's customers are facing out of Dublin.

The ADT was supposed to be a 'Green Tax' to be deployed in environmental initiatives. I'd like to hear from HMRC just what the tax is being used for.

Meanwhile, it would appear that the outward looking businesses of Northern Ireland are being penalised or forced to drive to Dublin.

I for one know just how important the direct route to USA from Belfast is and I'm prepared to pay a small premium to support the service. But these are tough times and sometimes it is too much to swallow.

Also, I've been calling for a common approach by the US Immigration Service to the island of Ireland - let's have clearance on this side of the Atlantic in Belfast as we enjoy out of Dublin and Shannon.

This fantastic and (I believe) unique service speeds up entry to USA on the other side of the pond and facilitates the business passenger making important connections to smaller cities. This is good for the US too and should be supported by the SME community in middle America.

Views please...

Conservatives & Unionists - going forward into new politics

2009-10-28T00:50:00.000-07:00

I will be honest, had there been an agreed Unionist Candidate for South Belfast I might have allowed my name to go forward.

Then, in a heart searching moment, I recognised just how wrong that would have been [on so many levels!].

I attended the UUP Conference on Saturday and was struck not by peacocks strutting (as some have put it), but by the encouraging number of new people, younger people, men and women, from a variety of faith, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds and significantly from the business community.

The Conservative & Unionist voice will appeal, more and more, to many in South Belfast and East Belfast and right across the province. People are tired of the hatred, of the narrowness of perspective, of the default position to attack others with venom. I thought one contributor on Jim Fitzpatrick's Politics Show on Sunday might actually burst, live on TV!

In coalition we must focus on what we agree on, we must remember how far we have travelled and we must redouble our efforts to reach accommodation and understanding on the things that hold us back.

Don't get me wrong, not least in the ever increasing Conservative & Unionist family, we have a long way to travel before we are confident, outward looking and attractive enough to the political class (as opposed to their electorate) to move or merge.

One portion of Sir Reg Empey's Leader's Conference Speech struck me on Saturday; it was his reference to the United States of America and Gerry Adam's overt campaign to encourage Irish America to push for Irish Unity.

Without thinking of myself more highly than I ought, I am somewhat qualified to speak on Irish America, perhaps more than most in the Conservative & Unionist fold. I was the first Ulsterman appointed to the board of the Ireland-US Council since it was established out of the meeting of President JFK and Taoiseach Sean Lamass in 1963. Working with colleagues from Ireland and the US, I influenced the constitution of that group to be changed, by taking them back to a speech by Kennedy referring to an 'island of opportunity'. Together we redefined the constitutional references to 'Ireland' to mean the 'island of Ireland'.

I am also a Founder Trustee of The Presidents' Club which draws its Patrons and Trustees from across the island and the United States. In that and other capacities I have engaged, socialised and spoken at groups as diverse as Presbyterian gatherings in Virginia to the AOH Manhattan Branch. I have shown the confident face of Conservative Unionism, I have spoken proudly of my heritage and I have demonstrated we are reasonable and normal!

I accept Gerry Adam's campaign of espousing Irish Unity might threaten some folks. I suggest it ought not to threaten a more confident unionist family and it be countered, not with hostility, but by confidently, professionally and carefully educating and presenting the alternative view, a more unifying way, that appeals to the hearts and minds of the majority.

We have had tremendous discussions recently about the Diaspora. As the conversation continues people are becoming clear just how numerous, dispersed and well placed the Diaspora is. The other thing that is now accepted is that it has 40 shades of green and at least as many of orange! I would encourage all to read Senator Jim Webb's book Born Fighting - how the Scots-Irish shaped America and to delve into his Political Action Group of same name.

These are exciting days and we have tremendous and plentiful opportunities ahead. Let's confidently embrace the future, with our Diapsora and see how it can be harnessed to underpin the economy and to enrich culture. We have just had a good example with the visit of the Irish Technology Leadership Group from Silicon Valley to Belfast. It was my pleasure and privilege, building on friendships and relationships, to bring the ITLG to Titanic Quarter in the East and to An Culturlann and the Gaeltacht Quarter in the West of my beautiful Belfast.

Meantime I hope Conservatives & Unionists continue to provide leadership and engage wholeheartedly on the important issues of the day Education, Economy, Health and a Shared & Better Future.

Joining The Dots - Engaging the Diaspora

2009-10-25T15:03:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday 21st October 2009, while helping to host the Irish Technology Group's 'Silicon Valley Comes to Ireland - Belfast 09', the Presidents' Club held a session entitled Joining the Dots.

Our idea, somewhat like the massively resourced Farmleigh Global Irish Forum, was to consult with people from and connected to the Northern Ireland and wider Irish Diaspora. (Note: I understand the Farmleigh event was organised by the Office of the Taoiseach/DFA and I think included [perhaps appropriately] a couple of Northern Ireland based people.)

In Belfast at The Presidents' Club we set out to consider:-

A. Just what is 'The Diaspora' and how do we engage more effectively with it?

B. Creating a 'Terms of Engagement', a set of courtesy protocols that should be observed by all the players on the pitch (too simplistic to say Public & Private sectors) who are seeking to attract FDI and do more and better business.

Our modest gathering was opened by Sir Reg Empey MLA, Minister for Employment & Learning and was attended by representatives of:-

US State Department / US Consulate
Belfast City Council
Ireland- US Council
Boston Irish Business Association
ITLG
Belfast Harbour Commissioners
Titanic Quarter
Shannon Development
Atlantic Way
Invest NI
IDA
Enterprise Ireland
InterTradeIreland
Newry & Mourne
Crossmaglen & South Armagh
Dundalk Chamber
Tangible Ireland
West Belfast & Greater Shankill Enterprise Council
Washington Ireland Program
DFP
DEL
Hibernia International/Project Kelvin
and a host of significant small business and larger corporations

The session was moderated by Economist and Belfast Telegraph Journalist John Simpson. We were a little constrained by the fact that we had so much experience in the room that we needed to capture and we had to finish in time for the ITLG Gala lunch at City Hall.

That said, this was clearly the start of a conversation and we hope people will now contribute to the discussion. Six themes came to the fore that require action and further consideration:-

1] Engaging the Diaspora - getting our COLLECTIVE heads around the strength and depth of the Northern Ireland/Irish Diaspora and working out how to appropriately engage.

2] Terms of Engagement - we remain committed to drafting a series of courtesy protocols for how the Public and Private sector should cooperate and support one another in the field.

3] Trading Places - a new Trade Initiative - to support and resource our SME sector to do more and better business on new frontiers. We had interesting examples of expansive and ambitious small businesses from Belfast's Shankill Road.

4] Kicking Off Kelvin - an inclusive initiative to ensure we maximise Project Kelvin and its potential. Always considered the 51st State, we are now physically attached by Hibernia's fibre optic connection.

5] Ambassadors' Master Class - learn from the best and most successful Northern Irish and Irish businesses (large & small) who have cracked it in USA and elsewhere. Just what are the do's and don'ts?

6] Top Tool Box - release the talent by encouraging our fantastic technologists to produce a suite of tools to aid conversation, communication, engagement and collaboration. Not just a web site, or Twitter, or Facebook, or LinkedIn, Ning...maybe a White Label solution....who knows? Let's ask our tech gurus who do know!!

A number of practical initiatives are already underway and The Presidents' Club seeks to support and encourage this activity.

Feedback and thoughts please. ALL constructive contributions valued.

Is Public Investment Shoring Up NI Economy?

2009-08-10T06:57:00.000-07:00

A very interesting piece in Belfast Telegraph about the insulating effect of Public Investment in Infrastructure. This is something that our MLAs (particularly DUP ones) keep profligating.

The reality is that very few companies in the NI Construction Sector get a sniff of this work which is hoovered up by specialist large contracting firms. Don't get me wrong, the investment is both welcome and necessary and the firms in question are professional, innovative, efficient, indeed world-class.

BUT, this does little for the myriad of bricklayers, plasterers, electricians and joiners in need of a work.

We need to seriously examine policy and PRACTICE in other areas of Government such as planning and procurement and urgently stimulate activity in things such as social & affordable housing provision.

Maze Centre of Engineering Excellence

2009-07-23T01:12:00.000-07:00

Perhaps too much ink has been deployed on the subject of the Maze (Long Kesh) and the wider Stadium debate. I immediately declare my involvement with Ulster Rugby, where I sat on the now defunct Stadium Committee prior to the advancing of the impressive new Stand at Ravenhill.

I coined the phrase ‘Belfast, once a city of 2 halves, is now a city of 7 quarters’. It is entirely compatible with this philosophy, which celebrates a proud city of diversity and activity, that I now call for appropriate financial support to be allocated to Casement Park, Ravenhill, Windsor Park and Danny Blanchflower Park.

We could and should passionately promote great and welcoming sporting events in these communities, just as we should promote Titanic Quarter on the East Bank, Cathedral Quarter in the city centre and the Gaeltacht Quarter in the West (as well as the other 4 – Linen, Library, Queen’s & Market Quarters).

That said, I turn to what to do with the Maze with its strategic location (adjacency to Belfast-Dublin rail link and M1/A1), accessibility (from throughout the island and importantly from the island’s Ports and Airports) and plentiful acreage and relative remoteness from housing (and that’s not a contradiction from my point on accessibility)?

In this Twitter era, the key might come our renowned world-class ability at Tweaking rather that Twittering. Our rich sporting heritage in motorsport is directly linked to our engineering DNA. It is well known that amateur and semi-professional Northern Ireland 2 and 4 wheel competitors and teams can extract more performance from an engine or chassis, much to the frustration and admiration of many a well funded Works team.

There have been almost as many column inches devoted to the need for a state-of-the-art motor-racing track in Ireland as there have been to the aforementioned stadium debate.
Northern Ireland once hosted the Ards TT (and later the Dundrod TT) which was one of the Grand Prix events, before modern F1-style Grand Prix existed, along with the Mille Miglia, Le Mans and the Sicilian Targa Florio.
The Circuit of Ireland was the longest tarmac rally in the world. We have more World Rally Cars (WRC) per capita in Ireland than anywhere else in the world.
I helped to stage and promote the WRC Rally Ireland at Stormont and across the border from Enniskillen to Sligo, which generated a €42M positive economic impact to the island.
We have created many more 2 and 4 wheel stars per capita than most countries. Two of our number, John Watson and Eddie Irvine, have come within a hairs breadth of clinching the F1 drivers title.
I remember with pride and personal sadness the world-beating Dunlop Brothers – Joey as a childhood hero and Robert a great friend.
Some favoured the Dromara Destroyers, others the Armoy Armada. Either way their success stemmed from their ability with the spanner nearly as much as their guile around the circuit. Remember the great Ray McCullough, one of the ‘Destroyers’ came from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Queen’s University, where they honed his hybrid Yamaha engine.
Today the NW200 is acclaimed as one of the finest road-racing, indeed motor-racing, festivals in the world rivaling the Isle of Man TT, the British Grand Prix or even Daytona.
The Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod has hosted the climax to the Formula 1 World Motorbike series (won by Joey Dunlop), a precursor to the World Superbike Series.
Recently the A1GP world title was clinched by Team Ireland owned by our own Mark Gallagher and driven by Portadown’s Adam Carroll.

All this recalled, perhaps we should back our ability as world-class Tweakers with visionary initiatives that will yield economic pay-back, as well as training and jobs.

Let’s develop the Maze Centre of Engineering Excellence focused around a racing track (and test-track facility) that the island of Ireland can be proud of. We can encourage a cluster of motor-racing, engineering and associated technologies to co-locate.

Look at Silverstone, which has developed in to a vital resource in the world of automotive engineering and technology.

Look at the thousands of people already employed in this sector locally. Why not have our Universities and FE Colleges locate a shared facility at the Maze Centre of Engineering Excellence.

I am not saying this is the whole solution to finding a way out of the Maze, but it would be a good start.

The Open back to Royal Portrush

2009-07-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

I recently had the privilege of welcoming the Claret Jug into South Ayrshire in preparation for the Open Championship.

In the run up to what was one of the greatest Opens in years, local star Darren Clarke was widely quoted by the Belfast Telegraph, BBC and world media saying that The Open should return to Royal Portrush.

The Open has only once been held outside Great Britain when the famous north coast links hosted the Championship in 1951 when Max Faulkner triumphed with a total of 285.

Portrush was christened Royal Portrush Golf Club in 1895 when HRH The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) was Patron.

History (and definitely politics which should be firmly left) aside the Co. Antrim links would make a fabulous re-addition to the Open roster. In more recent years it has hosted The British Seniors Open from 1995 to 1999 and again in 2004.

I was disappointed when I heard the wonderful Peter Allis and our own Maureen Madill chatting on-air during the Beeb's coverage of last week's event. Maureen made what I think was an ill-informed point that we have insufficient hotel beds. That is simply not true. I am a Director of a Brunston Castle Golf Club only 5 miles from Turnberry in South Ayrshire and I well know that there are more hotel beds within a 40 minute drive-time of Portrush than there are around Turnberry.

Furthermore, whilst the A77 (from Glasgow to Stranraer) has been greatly improved, it was unfair to say the north coast is worse off for connecting infrastructure.

I accept we could do with more quality beds in Portrush and its immediate surrounds and that the road connections could be further improved, however we can easily address these issues.

I would encourage the appropriate Ministers (and it should be a joint effort) and the Assembly to Direct the Planning Service and other agencies to do whatever it takes. Similarly if Road improvements are required to speed golfers, TV, spectators and the like from Belfast/Ballymena then tell Roads Service to make it happen!

I challenge DETI, DOE, DRD and others to do whatever it takes. The positive economic impact and legacy will far outweigh any public subvention required.

The World Rally Championship, which I helped to stage and promote at Stormont in 2007, brought a €42M positive economic impact to the cross border region from Enniskillen to Sligo. Indeed the spend was in fact spread much further afield (people will find and drive to hotels!).

Furthermore, with the Public Accounts Committee having had its say, let's not drown in NI Events Company history or previous attempts.

I am starting a Campaign on this and will be looking for support from across the island and USA. Meantime I intend to call my good friend Howard Hastings the energetic new Chairman of the NITB to establish what is the current thinking.

If there are hurdles in the way lets knock the down. Our talented crop of Rory McIlroy, Portrush duo Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, two time champion Padraig Harrington and many talented youngsters deserve a shot at an Open Championship on Ulster soil.

A Sense of Urgency - BILLION EURO Enterprise Fund

2009-07-06T01:06:00.000-07:00

The following discussion paper was written by a Dublin based member of The Presidents' Club and has been presented to senior Government Officials and Elected Representatives in the Republic of Ireland.

A Sense of Urgency - BILLION EURO Enterprise Fund

TÚS MAITH, leath na h-oibre

Crisis: A Sense of Urgency

As we head into the traditional holiday period many tend to think that all important activities and decisions need to be left until Autumn 2009. If you are in Government, government employment or semi-state employment you can put your flak jacket on, keep you head down and hang in there, and maybe even go on holidays. It’s different here in the Private Sector.

Last Tuesday I met a senior public official at a workshop who told me the country was now broke; I explained that he was right but that there is a major difference now between the Public and Private Sectors. The Public Sector can borrow and is being paid; but, in the Private Sector, we are broke, cannot borrow and are not being paid. We are ACTUALLY broke while the Public Sector is VIRTUALLY broke.

I’m personally broke and am once again faced with the simple choice which I faced in the early eighties: Stand up and Fight or Cut and Run. I do not want to Cut and Run as my children are being educated here and they need stability and a real future in their own country. The Recession hit me hard in May 2008 and has not eased since in spite of Trojan efforts in domestic and international markets.

I believe our Government is handling the current crisis incorrectly as it has placed too much emphasis on the financial crisis rather than our human potential. This is fundamentally at variance with the founding principles of Fianna Fail, one of which is:

To make the resources and wealth of Ireland subservient to the needs and welfare of all the people of Ireland.

I cannot wait for the Autumn; I believe most people in business cannot wait until the Autumn to see significant action. We cannot wait for Fianna Fail to try to use a success in Lisbon II to rebuild their reputation with the electorate to safeguard their own future. We need ACTION today so that we can get through our current paralysis and go on to deliver genuine long-term economic progress for all our people.

We have the human resources, but they are currently under-capitalised and under-valued. These urgently need to be invested/deployed in new initiatives and projects. We need to put the emphasis on our human and intellectual capital ahead of our financial capital. We talk of a knowledge economy and yet only revere financial wealth. We do not fund intellectual endeavour, research, business and entrepreneurship to the same order of magnitude that we fund the banks and property market. A series of token gestures for enterprise wrapped up in red tape are still being discussed and designed. When it comes to enterprise we talk in millions BUT when we talk of banks and property we talk in billions.

I suggest we act now with urgency and reduce our investment of €4,000,000,000 to Anglo Irish Bank to €3,000,000,000 and release in the coming days ONE BILLION EUROS for enterprise and entrepreneurial endeavours.

Solution: BILLION EURO Enterprise Fund

The biggest challenge has been what to do and where to focus, thus I suggest a simple process as follows:

Brian Cowen rings Michael Somers of NTMA and says transfer ONE BILLION EUROS to a special Enterprise Account immediatelty.
An open competition where every resident in Ireland and every Irish citizen overseas can propose a job creation idea, enterprise or innovative idea and submit it by the 1^st of August 2009. On completing a simple 2-page Project Outline Form each applicant, up to a maximum of 10,000 applicants, will instantly receive €1000 which can be spent in any manner by the recipient on his/her project as long as it is spent in the Irish Economy.
These 10,000 ideas and initiatives will be culled, analysed and supported to identify urgently the best measures that can be taken to get the economy moving. Over the next 24 months we can rapidly invest €1,000,000,000 in the best ideas of the Irish people. See Table Below.

The injection of the funds straight into the economy and bypassing the banks will kick-start economic recovery, generate momentum and hope and have a huge positive multiplier effect. The engagement of the people in tackling our own problems will get us past fear, fatalism and despondency. The new enterprises will be a vital part of the economic bedrock of the new Irish economy. These multiple benefits represent a far better return on investment than merely leaving our money languishing with the failed Anglo Irish Bank.

Control of this BILLION EURO Enterprise Fund should be administered by a representative group active in social and commercial enterprise. Direct feedback from the Public could be used to select the best of ideas. No party political influence should be tolerated.

With the BILLION EURO Enterprise Fund we will kick start our economy before the end of summer.

*BILLION EURO* Enterprise Fund
STAGE	No. of Initiatives	Funding in €	Total Funding in €	Timeframe in weeks
Process Management	1	10,000,000	10,000,000	104
Concepts	10,000	1,000	10,000,000	4
Captured Concepts	5,000	5,000	25,000,000	2
Validated Concepts	2,500	10,000	25,000,000	4
Feasibility Studies	1,500	50,000	75,000,000	4
Pilot Schemes	750	100,000	75,000,000	8
Scale Ups	250	250,000	62,500,000	12
Commercially Viable	125	1,000,000	125,000,000	26
Expansion Equity	60	10,000,000	600,000,000	26
TOTAL:			€1 Billion+

What to do

If you think this idea has merit please use your favourite Blog, website or social networking site, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Text, eMail or Snail Mail, Telephone or coffee house, Newspaper or Radio Station to build momentum and let Brian Cowen know that we cannot wait until the Autumn. We must act quickly and decisively.

Come the day and come the hour,

Come the power and the glory

We have come to answer our Country’s Call

From the four proud Provinces of Ireland.

If not now then when, if not us, then who?

Once more with integrity – Is feidir linn!

Raymond Sexton

Tangible Ireland

(contact details provided and available to genuinely interested parties)

Northern Ireland Welcomes the Roma People

2009-06-24T03:11:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to reproduce the following letter that I received on my facebook from Fionna Smyth:-

Thanks you very much everyone that left a message on the message board, I am passing the messages onto NICEM who have been working directly with the Roma community to give them to the Roma.

The Roma are persecuted throughout Europe, who can forget the events in Italy last year where two Roma teenage girls drowned and the holiday makers on the beach just covered their bodies with towels and carried on sunbathing. Or when a Roma community worke up one morning in the Czech Republic to find that a wall had been built in the middle of the night seperating them from the rest of the town.Many Many examples of the persecution of the Roma community can be found at

http://tinyurl.com/lk9m9l

Tragically, racism against the Roma and the Irish traveller community is still almost socially acceptable.

It has been a really dark time for community relations in N Ireland and despite belated attempts to make the Roma people feel welcome many are opting to return to Romania rather than stay in Northern Ireland.

Amnesty International research has shown that in Romania the Roma face widespread discrimination and persecution as the following extract from a recent press release shows.

"discrimination against Roma, both by public officials and in society at large, remained widespread and entrenched in Romania. Romanian authorities have repeatedly failed to take adequate measures to combat discrimination and stop violence against Roma.

Roma continue to be denied equal access to education, housing, health care and employment. Roma children can find themselves segregated into special schools.

Previously there have been serious attacks on Roma communities. In the 1990s at least five people were killed and 45 houses destroyed during mob violence. Hundreds of people were made homeless while local authorities failed to intervene or actively participated in the attacks.

Last year the Romanian President Traian Băsescu faced no sanctions despite describing a journalist as a "stinky gypsy", despite the phrase being found to be discriminatory by the High Court."

Most alarming, is that the message that this sends out to the racists, iscthat violence and intimidation against immigrant communities works. Many excellent intiatives have been established such as Love Music Hate Racism and I urge as many people to get involved as possible.

We also need real political leadership to be shown, particularly by politicians who serve the constituencies which have been blighted by these racist events.

Racism is a canker in our society which corrodes it from within and it is our responsibility to ensure that it is challenged where ever it is found.

If you would like to sign up for the Amnesty International e-zine to receive monthly human rights updates and actions go to www.amnesty.org.uk/ni

Peace

Fionna

You could be somewhere nice

2009-05-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

My old Gran, God bless her, had many pearls of wisdom and ironic sayings. Its hard to beat irony well placed. (That said I've noticed that its a form of humour for advanced class members only.)

Having dispatched our daughter on a Sunday School Weekend, we were able to take in Belfast resplendent in the sunshine. As my old gran would have said, 'you know, you could be somewhere nice!'.

Music: These Days by wonderful Belfast singer songwriter Brian Houston (available on itunes).

I have said it many times before, I love my City. This weekend it was clear that many other citizens and maybe an even greater number of visitors agreed.

like herding cats

2009-05-23T01:38:00.000-07:00

Renowned author, guru and speaker Ken Thompson, a great Presidents' Club supporter, has reached new heights. Ken is just back from telling NASA that cats can indeed be herded!

I would encourage you all to have a look at Ken's Swarm Team and bioteams sites. His business tools and insight have been helping many creatives in the Music industry to communicate better with their fan base. It is fascinating stuff with many business applications.

Monetizing our advantage in Digital Content

2009-05-19T03:28:00.000-07:00

On the front page of the Irish Times today is a story about information overload as the world's Digital Content rockets.

Presidents' Club Trustees and members from both sides of the Atlantic are actively engaged in the leadership of the NI Digital Content Initiative which is exploring the exciting potential for Belfast and Northern ireland to become a worldwide hub for Digital Content.

Only last week a number of us met up in New York with some of the industries brightest stars. Steve Masur, a 'rock star' in the world of Entertainment Industry Lawyers is working with some of our talented legal eagles to flesh out how we are going to 'monetize the opportunity'.

Steve is penning a book on ISP Licensing that will launched in Frankfurt in 2010 for the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers.

Meanwhile other PC bright lights are working to make the most of Project Kelvin which connects Northern Ireland to USA via a £28M fiber optic cable giving direct high speed massive bandwidth connectivity.

It is often said we are the 51st State of USA, well now we are physically attached! It must be stressed, Northern Ireland has one of the best IT and telecoms infrastructures in the world and enjoys a distinct advantage over our cousins in the Republic of Ireland and GB.

Now we must MONETIZE our advantage!!

Cathedral Quarter Belfast City Life - a Midtown Moment

2009-05-11T01:07:00.000-07:00

I first described Belfast as no longer a city of two halves, now its is a city of seven Quarters - from Titanic Quarter in the East to the Gaeltacht Quarter in the West.

The most mature of our Quarters, with so much going on, is Cathedral Quarter, an established centre of excellence for Creative Industry, Digital Content, Wireless technology, Business ICT, professional services and art & design.

Its success stems from a unique high quality environment with a rich heritage of culture and arts. Cathedral Quarter is a fun place to work, visit and live - a cool quarter with café society, chic cobbled street and lanes, attractive work space and hyper-connectivity.

From April 30, culminating last night, we had the 10th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival as well as the fantastic street Festival of Fools. Congratulations to Directors Sean Kelly and Will Chamberlain respectively.

With the festivals over the action continues day-in-day-out. With the onset of Summer, we have the Summer Sundays programme to look forward to. Midtown Center presents a few highlights from the weekend past to give you a flavour!

We look forward to welcoming you to Midtown Center. Come and enjoy the summer and the craic of Cathedral Quarter!

ireland world champions @ A1 GP

2009-05-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

First it was the 6-Nations at Rugby....an all island sporting triumph.

Now Team Ireland, a fantastic all-island initiative with Portadown's Adam Carroll at the wheel and Mark Gallagher at the helm, wins the A1 GP World Title at Brands Hatch today.

Mark Gallagher is principally known for his 9 years working as part of the senior management team at Eddie Jordan’s Formula One team and subsequently head of sponsorship for Jaguar/RedBull Racing. Widely respected within the industry Mark now heads his own sports management company.

Adam Carroll was until recently a F1 test driver for Honda (which has morphed into early season leaders Brawn GP) and must now be destined for Formula 1 with the new cost cutting rule changes likely to lead to the introduction of new teams - speculation suggests both Lola and Dave Richards of Prodrive are preparing an onslaught.

Whatever the future holds, we are delighted to see the hard work pay off and Team Ireland get the success it deserves.

As one of the team that brought WRC Rally Ireland to the island, creating a worldwide TV spectacular at Parliament Buildings in Stormont in Novermber 2007, I think it would be great to see a PROPER motor racing circuit built on the island.

This could attract the best events and underpin the engineering heritage and the jobs of thousands of Irish (north & south) employed in this cutting edge crucible of technology - including important R&D into environmental and road safety technology.

Proud to be Irish!

irish brands to be dropped by Tesco

2009-05-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

What a fascinating front page piece in the Irish Times today.

Are we now witnessing 'Tescoization' following Globalization. The Irish Times report suggests the range and volume of traditional Irish brands is to be cut from Tesco shelves. If so, this may be a really interesting by-product of the current tide of RoI domestic spending flowing into NI.

I wonder how some will respond to a large [English] multi-national company shuffling out iconic Irish brands. We know how many in Northern Ireland respond to perceived erosion of Britishness.

The Irish Times say it understands that Tesco is engaged in an experiment to test how loyal Irish shoppers are as they pursue value for money. Hitherto Irish shoppers have been considered to be more brand conscious than their British counterparts. This all comes only a few months after Finance Minister Brian Lenihan questioned the patriotism of shoppers flooding North and Norn Iron Deputy First Minister responded forthrightly.

Meanwhile, to add to the mix, my good friend Andy Pike UK Consul and NI rep in New York tells me he was at a St George's Society dinner a week last Friday when Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy was one of the honourees and his first remarks were drawing attention to his Irishness (he was born in Liverpool of Irish parents, I think)

Watch this space...!

Meanwhile I am off to New York for a few days midweek, where many of my friends love a good cup of Barry's Tea!!

In the shadow of each other, the people live

2009-04-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

I have blogged previously about Dublin based Munster dynamo Raymond Sexton’s innovative Tangible Flight Plan 2009 initiative. He had us take-off in Dublin in the first week out of the blocks in the New Year and we have touched down for a Shannon Stop-Over in Limerick. Now we are en route to the Big Apple next week.

What is the plan? Put simply, we are trying to unlock opportunity right now for US corporations – both large and small – to do business in Ireland and for Irish entrepreneurs, innovators and companies to break into the United States.

Raymond’s determination is that together we can rediscover the basic elements of success: Time,Treasure and Talent.

The Tangible series has been bringing together people who have something to contribute and value to add. There have been some fascinating speakers and action yielding discussions. Genuinely everyone who has attended has benefited. There have been a few epiphanies, but more have discerned a growing spirit of positivity and sense of direction. Some exciting ideas and actions have been stimulated and new business is going to be done amongst the assembled passengers and crew!

The old Irish Proverb: Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine (In the shadow of each other, the people live)

We need inspiration, followed by encouragement, supported by teamwork, access to empathetic financial resources and a genuine determination to succeed.

The line up helping to map the onward course in New York is as follows:-

Con Clarke, Consultant/Lobbyist/Former Operations Director Aer Lingus – ‘There's still a few chancers around the place'
Frank O'Rourke, Lawyer/President & CEO The Monnet-Madison Institute Inc. – a transatlantic educational partnership for the future of the European and American Unions.
David Cahill, Senior Executive Salesforce.com – Computing in the Clouds
Edward Gaffney, CEO Metroswag.com, Akron, Ohio – Live Global/Wear Local – Metroswag
Mike Flannery, CEO Redwood Partners & Co-Chair Friends of Belfast Association of New York – Collaborating and Innovating in a Digital Era
Mark Finlay, CEO Barnabas Ventures, the economic development company – Belfast once a City of 2 halves, now a city of 7 Quarters! (Just like New York)
John Kelly, CEO Irish Chamber Orchestra – a 'key note' address: Words of Wisdom interspersed with Powerful Music
Lori Heinel, Senior Advisor Citi Private Bank – Overview of US Economic Outlook
Bill Harvey, Director Eastern Consolidated – Real Estate Overview
Val Fenti, City Councillor/Business Owner – Canandaigua, Up State New York – Great place to live, work, and play

With this mix of contributors from Boston, New York, Ohio and Ireland along with a wide range of attendees we are going to have a Brain Storm on how we can collaborate to re-energise the economies of these two great countries: United States of America and the Island of Ireland.

Also, I hear clever people are working on flat out to permit a significant announcement to be made from the dais. Watch this space!!

This event will be held on the morning of Thursday May 7 in the Olympic Suite, 10th Floor, New York Athletic Club, 180 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019, United States of America

If you are interested contact Raymond – or I guess just turn up ;-}

Immediately afterwards the New York based Trustees of the Presidents’ Club thought it would be a good idea to convene an informal buffet lunch gathering. I am delighted to say that our good friends at Invest Northern Ireland have agreed to support this initiative. Thus if you are in New York on Thursday, May 7 for business, or to attend the American Ireland Fund Dinner, why not come to along to 2 great back-to-back events!!

ulster lions

2009-04-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

I am so delighted to see Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris representing Ulster interests on the British & Irish Lions forthcoming tour of South Africa.

The last time we had two Ulstermen on a Lions tour was when my friends Trevor Ringland and David Irwin were part of the 1983 tour to New Zealand. Let's hope our two new young Lions enjoy a little more success in the red jersey than the now longer in the tooth Ulster two (when I recall we went down 4-0 in the test series)!

Also, I seem to recall that Trev only played one test (while davy played 3).....let's hope Tommy gets more of a look in.

Minister responds to our concerns on empty rates

2009-04-15T03:08:00.000-07:00

I met with Finance Minister Nigel Dodds just before Easter, along with the Chairman of the RICS NI and our Executive Director and Policy Officer. I was very impressed with the way the Minister conducted the meeting. He comes across very well one-to-one and offered a listening ear and expressed willingness to be constructive. He smiled too.... I think all our politicians should smile more and be less adversarial.

We had a busy agenda on the NI Investment Strategy, the importance of driving delivery and the need for a steady workload as opposed to peaks of demand.

Amongst the items I raised concerns being expressed to me (which I empathise with) about the impact of empty rates on businesses at this difficult time.

I am delighted to note the Minister has acceded to my request and announced 'an evaluation of the policy on the rating of empty commercial premises. This will look at the effectiveness and impact of the policy over the five years it has been in place, as well as considering its effect during this current economic downturn.'

Well done sir!

http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-dfp-090409-minister-meets-with <http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-dfp-090409-minister-meets-with>

Shannon Stop Over Success. Onward to New York.

2009-04-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my absence from the blogosphere since St Patrick’s Day. I've had my nose to the grindstone!

Also prior to Easter I was supporting fellow Presidents' Club Trustee Raymond Sexton at his excellent Tangible Flight Plan 2009 Shannon Stop Over in Limerick. Raymond is determined to get this economy going. Enough others are focusing on the negatives. I applaud Raymond's efforts to do something positive.

Raymond pours so much energy and experience in to developing a strong island economy and genuinely cares for Northern ireland. Whilst he is a resident of Howth-Sutton (and his son Thomas plays rugby for Leinster as well as Ireland), we all know Raymond is a Munsterman and a proud son of Limerick first and foremost. Thus I had no hesitation in driving down to participate. I have to say I have heard so many bad-news stories about Limerick recently and they have had more than their fair share of troubles, but I was really impressed by the city.

Having now spoken to influential audiences in Dublin and Limerick, I am joining Raymond and the wonderful Irish-American elder-statesman and legal-eagle John J Reilly for the next (and maybe final?) leg at 8.30am on Thursday the 7th May 2009 in the Olympic Suite of the New York Athletic Club on Central Park South, New York.

The Tangible Ireland ‘pre-flight’ blurb says, Indicators are that the US economy will be the first to demonstrate real growth and we not only want to be part of it but also want to encourage our American cousins/friends/entrepreneurs to rebuild their economic future. The 'rising tide will raise all the boats' but it is important that we have our boats in the water to avail of the lift when it inevitably arrives. Building connections and forging relationships is the key to going forward be it in the technology, engineering, property, education, tourism, infrastructure , financial sectors etc..

If you are planning to be in NYC for business or to support the New York Ireland Fund Dinner http://www.irlfunds.org on the Evening of the 7th May 2009 why not take in the Tangible event!?

As an added bonus, we are having a Presidents’ Club luncheon for those who are interested. Give me a call or email me mark.finlay@the-presidents-club.com

St Patrick gets me thinking

2009-03-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

On a day when millions of Irish – representing 40 spades of green – celebrate St Patrick around the world (I have received emails, txt, tweats, facebook wall posts, etc. from all corners of the world), let’s reclaim the spirit of St Patrick for all. Patrick was brought to Ireland, went away and was called back to minister a simple gospel of love to all.

I am conservative and unionist in my outlook. I am an Irish Presbyterian. As the years go by I gain a better appreciation of my Ulster-Scots, British and Irish heritage. But you know what they say about history? It’s not what it used to be! Please don’t think me glib or disrespectful. I love history and culture and think we should learn lessons from them and we should remember those who have made selfless contribution to our lives today.

However on this 17^th of March 2009 this Belfast man, this Ulsterman, this Irish man is going to evoke the spirit of Patrick by starting to focus on new relationships amongst our community (thank you Martin McGuinness for suggesting we all start to refer to ONE community); new relationships on this island; new relationships between these islands; new relationships with the United States; and new relationships with the wider world. I am going to try my best to do what the bible teaches me, to love my neighbour and to love my own flesh and blood.

Now that gets me thinking – who is my neighbour and who is my own flesh and blood?

I guess as a Northern Ireland based conservative & unionist my neighbour lives in the other three provinces and on the other islands. My own flesh and blood lives here in Belfast, in Ulster, on this island and forms part of the Irish world-wide Diaspora.

By the way people often refer to the Diaspora as some mighty force to be harnessed, who ought to be remitting back home.

I think the Diaspora includes the forgotten Irish (from our ONE community and TWO traditions) in the GB, the undocumented Irish in the US and many people around the world who maybe all aren’t doing just as well as they had hoped when they left these shore. Maybe in Christian love we should consider how we can support and encourage these our brothers and sisters and our neighbours children.

Happy St Patrick’s Day.

The trouble with the troubles gallery

2009-03-14T11:24:00.001-07:00

I don't for one moment want to deny the hurt, loss and open wounds stemming from years of conflict. In recent weeks we have seen how some just can't move on.

HOWEVER, why do we need to have pictures of violent exchanges on the home page of the Belfast Telegraph every day?

Do people not realise we are all selling?

Just tonight a friend on the West Coast of the United States, a man who has been deeply helpful in promoting business development here in Belfast, sent me a link to a report of events that we had both been involved with in Silicon Valley and LA this week.

When I clicked the link there beside the story was a picture from 2001 of a group of people trying to topple an Army Jeep. Now I am NOT commenting on the rights or wrongs of the event, or the circumstances, or the quality of the action shot....BUT do we really need to keep regurgitating this stuff?

Can we not focus on positive stories, or current affairs?

Airport Disasters

2009-03-13T17:10:00.001-07:00

I tweated (Twitter name: markjfinlay) from London's Heathrow Airport earlier that I think Terminal 1 is a National Disgrace. Judging by the feedback on Twitter and facebook people agree.

OK, I was tired and irritable after 12 hours in coach flying from California. However I really do think it is dreadful. The run down shabby appearance, the marathon walks, the poor facilities, etc.

I mention how we add insult to injury - the way they treat the Irish. We are herded into confined spaces and treated like second class citizens. On our flight today there were a number of very significant US business figures en route to RoI. Now BAA may not think it is their responsibility, but they certainly let the side down in the experience they subject the customer too.

I proffered to my neighbour, I used to use Heathrow most weeks in life, now I seek to avoid it at all costs.

Now today I flew into Dublin Airport that is fairly awful too...albeit improving rapidly. I know our good friend Michael O'Leary has his particular views on the new Terminal under construction, but I have to say it looks great so far and promises to be an appropriate high quality gateway for visitors.

saying what needs to said and saying it well

2009-03-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

I am just back from San Francisco, Palo Alto, Cupertino and LA, after a hectic week of meetings and functions as we attempt to ‘bring home the bacon’ and deepen relationships in Silicon Valley and on the West Coast generally.

Our meetings were timed to coincide with the First and deputy First Ministers (FMdFM) being in the US so that we could support them and vice versa. When FMdFM were delayed departing for the US because of the atrocities of Antrim and Lurgan it made it doubly important for us and InvestNI and the private sector folks to be there to fill the vacuum.

We did our bit and were delighted to be able to point to the positive and unified statements being issued back home and to the clamour of activity from ordinary people, the gatherings at City Hall, the staggering traffic on the subject on Twitter and facebook and the other social networking sites.

When FMdFM arrived in LA on Wednesday evening the two men were quickly afforded an opportunity to address a very influential and eclectic gathering at the residence of the Bob Peirce British Consul-General which was also attended by the Irish Consul. The gathering had movie moguls and tech company Presidents and such luminary ex-pats as Film Star and Producer Kenneth Branagh, Adrian Spence the Ards Mistraeo and Musical Director of Camerata Pacifica, and my old school mate and ‘Rock Star’ of the video gaming industry David Perry who is based in Laguna Beach.

Both FM and dFM, in their different styles, delivered excellent messages, firstly of sympathy and second of unity of purpose that we will not be going back. They also relayed a powerful sales proposition, promoting business as usual and unfolding the distinct opportunity that the province affords in challenging times.

There is often reference in the US to the two traditions – Scots Irish/Ulster Scots and Nationalist/Catholic – but this time Martin McGuinness received noisy acclamation for saying that it was about time that we started to refer to one community and not two.

Indeed by the next day, as the men got into their stride at a Tourism Ireland function (fantastically organised by the wonderful and bubbly Deirdre O'Neill) one community it was and the traditions were appropriately referenced in a well structured sales pitch of our many attractions and rich culture.

I have to say the First Ministers spoke with passion and professionalism and the much needed message was warmly received.

As I depart the US I hope and pray that they (and indeed all of us) take every opportunity to stay on message.

Heart Wrenching

2009-03-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

As some may know I am over in San Francisco for a few days. Those of us here, trying to do business for ourselves and land a great economic opportunity for NI, are feeling the pain of separation at this time.

I recall feeling this pain before, years ago, when a group of us was overseas when one of the atrocities of the ‘troubles’ occurred and the world’s press was focused back home.

Our pain is for our island. Our hurt is made more acute by physical separation…not that we could add anything by being home. In fact while here we will tell everyone we can that these men do not represent the will of the people of Ireland.

Meantime, our hearts go out to the families of the people killed in Antrim and now Lurgan. We continue to pray for those left behind and for the injured.

The Rat Race

2009-02-20T06:12:00.000-08:00

Whilst in DC somehow we were invited to attend a dinner full of world leaders and movers and shakers (as Tony Blair called them), where one of the speakers was Ken Blanchard author of The One Minute Manager

First he got the audience out of its seat....a task in itself given the nature of the assembled crew....to engage in some 'attitude exercises'. Feeling suitably admonished and challenged I settled back down in a more open frame of mind.

He told us we should start our days slowly. He thought it inappropriate to be woken by an ALARM clock, but better to be aroused by an OPPORTUNITY clock!

He gazed over the assembled diners and observed that many were engaged in the 'Rat Race'. Remember, he quipped, if you win, you are still a rat!!

Are you Tired of our Politicians?

2009-02-14T15:07:00.000-08:00

Did you ever go beyond frustration with our elected representatives?

I watched Hearts & Minds this week and I was sick to my stomach.

I just had the pleasure of leading a delegation of politicians, community leaders, church folk and business people to Washington DC - center of the free world.

What an uplifting experience....we enjoyed inspirational speeches from President Obama, former PM Tony Blair, etc, etc, etc......and then came home to Noel Thompson and crew...which brought us down to earth with a CRASH!!

ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH I say.

Why do our politicians feel they have to expend all their energy in point scoring and knocking one another? We are in times of crisis and need clarity and direction, not bickering and division. I am not naive and don't expect unity on all matters. Indeed I am aware of the fundamental divisions in the United States....but at least they are unified that action is imperative.

I have spent recent days with people from Gaza and Columbia and other war torn zones, all grasping for hope in our story. I could cry when I watch Noel's programme. I told them, we have peace but we don't have reconciliation.

We have got to redouble our efforts to deliver reconciliation and to start to focus on what we agree on. I pray we will learn from the simple teachings on Jesus and learn to love each other and our neighbours.

The Power of and Place of Prayer - British Press Spin!

2009-02-09T15:46:00.001-08:00

It disappointed me to read the press coverage of the National Prayer Breakfast in the British Press, once I had returned home from Washington DC.

The London Times and Daily Telegraph took the stance that Tony Blair had thumbed his nose at Messrs Brown and Sarkozy by being the first European Leader to meet President Obama.

I was there when it happened and must put the record straight. In fact both gentlemen were the guests of a number of Congressmen and Women who meet weekly in support of each other and in prayer. The Congressional Leaders are in turn supported by the National Prayer Breakfast Organisation that coordinates all the practical arrangements, including issuing the invitations and collating the responses and organising the seating plan.

Both men were invited to speak and share thoughts regarding their own faith and and issues of faith generally. It is traditional for the President to attend and every year the keynote speaker has been someone of considerable interest. Recent speakers have included King Abdullah of Jordan, Mother Theresa, Benazir Bhutto and Bono.

I have been asked who was the better speaker. I am not sure it is a fair question. Both were excellent and had interesting perspectives. The President drew attention to a new initiative involving faith based organisations - cleverly harnessing the wonderful work of many volunteers involved in delivering community services; but at the same time maintaining the separation of Church and State.

Tony Blair struck a cord with many, speaking with great sincerity about his personal journey of faith and the important role played by a school teacher in his early childhood.

He told how his family was thrown into turmoil when his father suffered a stroke at the early age of 40. His stoic mother sent young Tony off to school as normal. When the young student was clearly upset his teacher said "don't worry Tony. Will we say a prayer for your Dad?". Tony replied tearfully that his father didn't believe in God and his teacher responded "Don't worry, God believes in your father!"

I also read on my return to Ireland about Nurse Caroline Petrie suspended after offering to pray for a patient....interesting parallel with young Tony's mentor!

Washington Reception for Irish Delegation

2009-02-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

Journeying to the center of the 'free world' always inspires me.

Washington in the District of Columbia has to be one of the most energising places in the world and Virginia beyond is one of the most beautiful.

Three Presidents' Club Trustees engaged in a week long packed schedule of events surrounding the National Prayer Breakfast.

The Irish Delegation was involved in soul searching meetings and stimulating engagements with groups from the United States and leaders from 180 other countries. There were Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers, Ambassadors, Generals, Parliamentarians, business people and men and women from faith based organisations.

In advance of the main event (the breakfast attended by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Tony Blair) the two highlights for the group were the welcome to Capitol Hill by Congressman Mike Doyle and a welcome reception co-hosted by the NI Bureau and the Irish Embassy.

Those attending were entertained by East Belfast songsmith Brian Houston at gatherings throughout the week. Brian's 'week' was followed by Radio Ulster listeners as he phoned in details of his progress.

In addition to the social element of the week, local politicians Carmel Hannah and Danny Kennedy together with Mark J Finlay and Richard Treacy met with groups from Gaza and Columbia to talk about lessons to be learned from Northern Ireland in peace and reconciliation.

Dan Rooney's Steely Victory....What Next?!

2009-02-02T03:07:00.000-08:00

Arizona 23-27 Pittsburgh - Well what a game! Experts say it was the best Super Bowl ever. Well done to both teams.

Now, whilst there will be Arizona supporters amongst you, we must celebrate with the great Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and one of the most influential Irish Americans. Dan is a co-founder The Ireland Funds.

In recent times he has hit the headlines for his significant support and endorsement of Barack Obama for President. He is quoted as saying "When I think of Barack Obama’s America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency."

In the days before Super Bowl XLII President Obama endorsed Dan Rooney.

In 2008, Rooney became an honorary Commander of the British Empire for his quiet work behind the scenes helping to establish peace, stability and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Now speculation is mounting that President Obama (or is it O'Bama) will appoint Rooney as his Ambassador to Dublin.

I am sure if that happens the increasingly cooperative relationship between the US Embassy in Dublin and the Consulate in Belfast (an offshoot of the London Embassy) will grow as Dan genuinely cares for the entire island.

Setting aside his enormous philanthropic influence, it is his business acumen that will characterise his Ambassadorship (if that is what transpires). We all know, in these challenging times, the special relationship (as the 51st State) between the US and Ireland is going to evolve. The relationship in the years ahead MUST be about reciprocity NOT remittance!

Now back to Mr Rooney...well done Sir and we hope and pray you will be granted great wisdom for the decisions that have to be taken in coming days and years. We wish you well for your future (which may intertwine with ours!)

Presidents' Prayer in Washington DC

2009-02-01T05:18:00.000-08:00

Three Presidents' Club Trustees have the privilege of coordinating the Irish delegation at the National [President's] Prayer Breakfast in the US Capital on Thursday.

This promises to be a very EXCITING week for us and I undertake to Blog as things unfold in Washington DC.

This is the 57th National Prayer Breakfast. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the President's Prayer Breakfast, when in fact it is hosted by Members of Congress and attended by the President. When Ronald Reagan addressed the breakfast as President he incisively said "I recognise we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it's all right to keep asking if we're on His side."

Last year we brought an eclectic group of community, political, business and cultural reps. This year we are joined by Carmel Hannah of the SDLP and Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy. There are 15 in the delegation from the island, from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Also, to reflect the the mood of optimism (well at least change) in the air with President Obama's arrival on the scene, we thought singer songwriter Brian Houston and his uniquely Belfast style would add a bit of spice to our delegation.

Visit www.brianhouston.com or itunes.

Brian is breaking off from his UK tour and flying in from London to join us, so he will have his guitar and harmonica with him. Thus we have seized the opportunity to arrange a reception for the many friends of the island of Ireland attending along with leaders and delegations from over from 130 countries. This event is being kindly hosted by the NI Washington Bureau and the Irish Embassy.

If you happen to be in DC on Wednesday night Brian will be playing from 9 to 11 at the Churchill Hotel on Connecticut Avenue.

Now, I can assure you, it is not just Breakfast with the President (and 3,500 others) on Thursday and a reception on Wednesday night. We have wall-to-wall meetings set up with Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle and many other friends of Ireland.

This is a new era and the nature of the relationship between Ireland (indeed all of Europe) and America is going to change. Our agenda, as an International organisation that just happens to be based in Belfast, is to focus on developing collaborative links. With the strength of the Dollar, this is the time for our talented entrepreneurs to be offering Outsourcing Solutions to US companies. Such 'foot-hold' relationships may in time lead to FDI investment....but realistically, this should be our focus right now.

Congressman Mike Doyle, who is favorably disposed towards Ireland, has made as his theme the support of US Small and Medium Sized technology companies. Our message is that we open opportunities for American SMEs and there will be a win-win by fostering links with Irish based SMEs.

get out and face the market!

2009-01-24T04:46:00.000-08:00

As the business climate gets tougher so we must get smarter. We at The Presidents' Club know this is not the time to put your head in the sand, to do nothing, or to delete marketing budgets....albeit significant savings can be made and effort reallocated.

It is a time to get out and sell, to move and shake, and to innovate.

I recall from University of Ulster days, a long time ago, that despite my undertaking a vocational 'business facing' degree, we were not taught how to sell. Since that era, I know that most of our excellent colleges now provide modules in entrepreneurship.

Now some think you can't teach sales and sales ability is a natural God given talent. Some even question God's role! It is true that most don't have the talent of young Rory McIlroy in golf....but one thing is for sure, few will practice as much as he does.

Whatever the discipline, sport, art, public speaking, or business, practice will raise your game.

I turn to 'moving & shaking' - in other words networking - and 'innovation'.
Much has been written about the social networking revolution and its positive impact on President Obama's election victory. Clearly social networking platforms like facebook played a vital part in his campaign.

Now business people need to examine the opportunities. It is not just about sharing mindless drivel and arranging which pub to meet in after work. The next few years are going to be exciting and new innovative collaborations are going to spring-up. One such initiative sees salesforce.com and facebook come together.

Launch: Force.com for Facebook from Dave Morin on Vimeo.

Also thanks to our great friend from Vancouver Matt Synder of ADO for his 'heads-up' on a new book The Facebook Era

Now exciting news - The Presidents' Club has some great upcoming events to help our members focus their fire.

Firstly Fegus Gloster SVP EMEA of salesforce.com is going to talk to us about Customer Relationship Management and web based technicques to yield the maximum from existing customers and new clients too.

Secondly Matt Johnston of Momemtum NI and Digital Circle is going to conduct a masterclass on social networking entitled Can you face facebook? Are you LinkedIn?

Matt is just a amasing....at our Inauguration Reception last week he was in constant Twitter conversation about the day, the new President and America's hopes! In another instantaneous initiative, I viewed the flickr images of the reception posted by another great 'creative' Davy Simms.

The Making of Obama

2009-01-20T17:14:00.001-08:00

First we got the picture

Now Keith Drury has given us this video footage entitled 'the Making of Obama'

http://www.sidewaysart.com/Site/Movie.html

What a man....Keith that is!

the real facebook

2009-01-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

My wife got an iphone for Christmas….amongst its useful applications it has an Obama Countdown on it!

As I type it is 18 hours : 54 mins : 33 seconds….27…15…

To commemorate what is clearly an historic occasion we at Belfast’s premier business networking venue will unveil a specially commissioned portrait of Barack Obama at The Presidents’ Club’s own Inauguration Reception tomorrow afternoon.

I attach a sneak preview!

The reception for business and civic leaders will have live-TV coverage of the ceremony in Washington as a backdrop on the Plasma screens throughout the Presidents’ Club’s stylish business facility in the Cathedral Quarter.

To mark the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America, the Presidents’ Club’s Trustees commissioned acclaimed local artist and Presbyterian Minister, Rev Keith Drury, to design and paint the portrait.

We already have eight wonderful, but traditional, Presidential portraits on our wall. I guess we thought it most appropriate to commission a contemporary portrait of the new President, who we believe is going to bring a new style, inspire new conversations and usher in a new era.

If you have visited the Eakin Gallery on the Lisburn Road or the Merchant Hotel recently you will know that Keith’s work is truly creative and reflects our vision. I have no doubt it will be a great conversation piece amongst our members from across the island and the many groups we have scheduled to visit shortly from Boston, New York, Silicon Valley, Colorado and Washington.

Keith’s art piece incorporates mixed media and is finished in oils. He refers to his style as ‘the real facebook’ as it involves a collage of newspaper articles underlying the subject of the painting. The words form a narrative which captures the events, speeches and activities of the campaign and election. The bigger the word on the canvas, the greater the frequency that Obama used it during his campaign!

Keith is a great innovator and even offers his work for hire through his web platform www.sidewaysart.com which was recently featured in the Observer Newspaper.

Inauguration - ‘ushering in’ a new song

2009-01-18T06:11:00.000-08:00

It is hard not to consider the inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday to be one of the most significant acts of modern history. It ‘augurs’ well that the occasion affords the world an opportunity to move on and to begin again to address peace and justice and economic stability and opportunity.

It was explained to me that Psalm 2 of the bible was read as every King of the Old Testament times was enthroned. The Psalm (which, albeit Greek, has a suitably Irish meaning of ‘song sung to the harp’) encourages the new ruler to rely on God and to ask him for assistance in ruling.

In the Gospel (which means Good News) of Mark the language of that song is again evoked in the account of John the Baptist preparing Jesus to commence his revolutionary Ministry.

In two weeks three of The Presidents’ Club’s Trustees will have the pleasure of leading the Irish delegation attending the 57th Annual National [President’s] Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC, hosted by Member of Congress from both Houses and from across the aisle. Every President since ‘Ike’ Eisenhower in 1953 has attend and offered a keynote address/prayer.

President Ronald Reagan addressed the Breakfast with these memorable words:
“America was founded by people who believed that God was their rock of safety. I recognize we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it’s all right to keep asking if we’re on His side.”

Whilst some may prefer I didn’t, I pray to God that Tuesday goes well, I pray protection over the new First Family, I pray the occasion is seized by men and women of goodwill around the globe as a new opportunity to deliver peace, justice and prosperity and, above all I pray that President Obama will keep asking God for wisdom and guidance.

ABout this Blog.

2009-01-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

A Chara Máirtín, thanks to you and your colleagues at Belfast Media Group and the Irish Echo for facilitating this new blog.

Hello unsuspecting world!

Some may know, The Presidents' Club is for people interested in business; in promoting the 'island-economy'; in forming collaborative networks; and in forging links between the United States of America, Ireland and Europe.

The club, based in Cathedral Quarter, was launched during the US:NI Investment conference but was inspired over dinner in Palm Beach.

We believe through created wealth, practical initiative and rich networks, society is greatly impacted. Our vision is of an Ireland whose people are reconciled and enjoy a unity of purpose – to see the island recognized for its young, well educated, creative and determined people; and a society known to value all and to care for its neighbor.

The Presidents' Club is a private sector initiative, born out of relationships north and south and across the Atlantic. We have Trustees from across the island and the United States.

The Presidents' Club was established to promote economic activity and we seek to encourage our members who are actively involved in social and charitable projects.