ulster lions

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.