: Homecare – reshaping community care

Homecare Independent Living’s Managing Director Mairead Mackle discusses its work and the challenges facing the Health Service in Northern Ireland with Peter Cheney and calls for a closer working relationship between the statutory and independent sectors in order to best deliver community care. “We have firm views on how Homecare’s services can positively impact on our local communities,” according to Mairead Mackle who founded Homecare Independent Living along with her husband Gerald in 1995. Gerald is Executive Director and heads up the company’s...[full story]

: New year honours list

Fifty-five individuals from Northern Ireland have been recognised in the new year honours list for their service to society. Across the UK, 984...[full story]

: The Big Society – Hugo Swire interview

To Hugo Swire, the Big Society is a major culture shift to give power to citizens but critics claim the concept is shallow and disguises cuts. Peter...[full story]

: James Naughtie’s America

Seasoned political journalist James Naughtie shares his thoughts on the US presidential race, and what makes a good interview, with Peter Cheney. Less...[full story]

: Inside Northern Ireland’s 1981 archives

Peter Cheney trawls through the 1981 papers, which depict a province caught in the grip of turmoil. The Troubles took 114 lives that year, including...[full story]


Page 1

: NICVA-risks of welfare reform

Lisa McElherron warns that welfare reform will hit the poorest hardest. The welfare reforms currently working their...[full story]

: Dalkia-achieving sustainable efficiency

Tony Doherty explores the issues at stake for public establishments striving to achieve sustainable energy efficiency. Public...[full story]

: Autumn Statement-regional impact

More capital spending and extra support for business are the main positives from the autumn statement but further cuts...[full story]

: Robert Chote-forecasting ahead

Office for Budget Responsibility Chairman Robert Chote explains its forecasting approach to Peter Cheney and how corporation...[full story]

: Economy

While still keeping the economy as first priority, the draft Programme for Government offers few radical solutions...[full story]

: Reform

Progress is promised on reforming education and local government after long delays. Apart from health and libraries,...[full story]

Page 2

: Sharing

Ministers suggest action on ‘peace walls’ and shared education but language and the past are two major obstacles. The...[full story]

: Patrick Love-Triple A shocks

The causes of the Great Recession risk being repeated, Patrick Love contends, as he reviews the downturn. Globalisation...[full story]

: New Irish President

Michael D Higgins has taken over from Mary McAleese as Irish President, while Irish citizens in Northern Ireland will...[full story]

: EST-times are changing

EST has operated in Northern Ireland for the past 15 years and is best known for the provision of free and impartial...[full story]

: R&D in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland needs to fight for European funding to fast-track its R&D performance and catch up with competing...[full story]

: Manu-services

Combining goods and services into packages is vital for UK manufacturing’s future success, according to the Work Foundation’s...[full story]

: Invest NI-driving innovation to boost business

Invest NI’s plans to support business R&D. The most recently published figures show that Northern Ireland expenditure...[full story]

: Scandinavia’s R&D success

Northern Ireland must follow Scandinavia’s lead and cut business grants which don’t back R&D. Graham Gudgin...[full story]

: Israel – an R&D leader

Israel is recognised as a world leader in research and development. agendaNi explores why. Disadvantaged by its small...[full story]

: Consilium-New headquarters

Consilium Technologies opens new corporate headquarters in Belfast following recent US expansion. One of Northern Ireland’s...[full story]

Page 3

: Assembly party policy summary

A summary of energy policies advocated by the Assembly parties. DUP Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister:...[full story]

: Arthur Cox-evolution or revolution?

Alan Bissett and David Trethowan emphasise the need for the main energy sectors to comply with EU law. The European...[full story]

: Shane Lynch-regulation or competition?

Utility Regulator Shane Lynch talks to Owen McQuade about the challenges in regulating the electricity and gas sectors...[full story]

: Ireland’s offshore opportunity

Offshore power can boost economic recovery and Northern Ireland has the edge over the Republic, NOW Ireland’s Brian...[full story]

: Kingspan-fuel poverty and telemetry

Kingspan Environmental is a division of Kingspan Group PLC that offers affordable environmental solutions for off-mains...[full story]

: The Crown Estate and renewables

Dermott Grimson discusses the Crown Estate’s role in renewables with Peter Cheney. “A property company” is the...[full story]

: Carson McDowell-competition in the sector

Dorit McCann outlines the local relevance of UK and EU judgements. UK and EU competition law prohibit two main types...[full story]

: Fracking explored

Stephen Dineen explains fracking and the increasing controversy surrounding it. Gas production companies need to be...[full story]

: Renewable planning

Planning reform could help to increase electricity generated from renewables to 40 per cent by 2020. agendaNi reports. PPS18...[full story]

: McGrigors–ROC re-banding

Richard Murphy of McGrigors LLP discusses the mood in the market with the ROC Re-banding proposals for Northern Ireland. Hot...[full story]

Page 4

: Translink-new Antrim station

Translink’s leading the way in energy efficiency with new state-of-the-art station. Sustainability is a key priority...[full story]

: North sea supergrid

North Sea states are making progress in plans for a connected offshore grid, due to strong government support. Political...[full story]

: Veridis-energy from waste

An overview of plans for Northern Ireland’s first major energy from waste project. Veridis Energy believes that its...[full story]

: Fuel poverty update

Stephen Dineen assesses the problem and plans to combat it. The level of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland has been revised...[full story]

: Bryson Energy–tackling fuel poverty

Bryson Energy’s aim is to ‘energy proof’ homes across Northern Ireland. Bryson Energy, part of the Bryson Charitable...[full story]

: Phoenix–fuelling the future

The NI Natural Gas Association is calling for policy changes to encourage more people to upgrade their heating systems. When...[full story]

: Future gas scenarios

Gas will play a significant role going forward, according to energy consultant James Greenleaf. “Given the uncertainty...[full story]

: Ernst & Young–securing the future

Business is ready but the right political leadership is needed to transform energy. The island of Ireland has always...[full story]

: Electric vehicles update

Electrification of vehicles presents opportunities and risks, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ Director Michael...[full story]

: IBEC-CBI–European input

The IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council (JBC) Energy Stakeholders Group is an all-island forum funded through the European...[full story]

Page 5

: Barclays – finance developments

Niall McInerney, Infrastructure and Structured Finance, Barclays Corporate, provides an insight into the investment...[full story]

: SSE & Airtricity–driving competition

With a market capitalisation of around £12 billion, and employing almost 20,000 staff, SSE plc is the broadest-based...[full story]

: Global trends

Oil and gas consumption is increasing due to new shale discoveries, but governments will have to make a trade-off between...[full story]

: Simple Power–small scale renewables

Simple Power CEO Paul Carson calls for action on planning, connections, financing and political leadership. The Department...[full story]

: Nuclear’s 21st century potential

William Nuttall, a technology policy specialist at Cambridge University, discusses the future of nuclear energy with...[full story]

: Overview

Care services will have to change and adapt to a rise in older people. Preventing poor health can reduce future demands....[full story]

: Age NI – Fixing social care

Age NI believes Northern Ireland’s social care system is broken and a new revised system is long overdue. The Compton...[full story]

: Adoption reform

Adoption legislation must be updated to provide more children with a family. Meanwhile, alternatives are being considered...[full story]

: Palliative care funding

As people live longer, often with chronic conditions, hospices will have to treat more patients while being forced to...[full story]

: Age Sector Platform – health priorities

The Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament finds that one in three older people are worried about access to health and...[full story]

Page 6

: Safeguarding children

Protecting and promoting the welfare of children is now to be overseen by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland....[full story]

: Preventing elder abuse – Nigel Dodds

Parliament will debate Nigel Dodds’ Bill to tackle the abuse of older people in the new year. Stephen Dineen reports. Nigel...[full story]

: Royal College of Nursing

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is a professional organisation and a trade union. It is not a member of TUC or ICTU...[full story]

: Bairbre de Brún – greening the recovery

Europe’s economy will be left behind without a green recovery, according to Bairbre de Brún. Extra investment is...[full story]

: Diane Dodds – time for an exit

Rising costs and interference mean the UK is better off outside the EU, according to Diane Dodds. The DUP MEP discusses...[full story]

: Jim Nicholson – Europe and enterprise

Jim Nicholson wants to promote a new narrative about Northern Ireland, with more businesses exploring European opportunities....[full story]

: How others see Europe

Insularity and caution will damage Europe’s standing in the world, according to diplomats. Peter Cheney considers...[full story]

: European Parliament visitors’ centre

Peter Cheney visits the Parlamentarium, the European Parliament’s new visitors’ centre in Brussels. To promote...[full story]

: South Belfast by-election?

Alasdair McDonnell’s leadership win opens up the possibility of a poll in his constituency. Voters in South Belfast...[full story]

: Public affairs in 2011

With the Assembly’s second term under way, two professionals share how public affairs has evolved in Northern Ireland. Microsoft...[full story]

Page 7

: DUP conference – a new direction?

Traditional DUP conference rhetoric stood in stark contrast to Robinson’s appeal to moderate voters. Meadhbh Monahan...[full story]

: UUP Conference – looking forward

  Ulster Unionists are weighing up their place in the political system and considering how to reverse a long decline. Peter...[full story]

: SDLP conference – seeking recovery

Peter Cheney sums up the SDLP conference, where Alasdair McDonnell got off to a shaky start as leader. The party has...[full story]

: TUV Conference

Criticism of the DUP’s willingness to work alongside Sinn Féin and a call for the UUP and SDLP to become opposition...[full story]

: Green party conference

The Green New Deal needs more than £12 million from 2011-2014 but it does act as a roadmap to a “social economy with...[full story]

: Brussels to Belfast

EU budget up 1.86% for 2012 After pressure from national governments, the EU’s 2012 Budget has been limited to a 1.86...[full story]

: Programme for Timidity

John O’Farrell finds the Executive’s plans falling short. You wait months for some news of government action on...[full story]

: Westminster Notes

Winter fuel cut challenged A DUP motion calling on the Government to review its plans to cut winter fuel payment was...[full story]

: MLAs’ books of the year

As thoughts turn to Christmas reading, Assembly members share their favourite reads of 2011. Conall McDevitt Walter...[full story]

: Assembly round-up

Slow progress on the Programme for Government is accompanied by a lack of legislation, as the year ends. Several MLAs...[full story]