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Bidding for public sector contracts neednt be like a game of snakes and ladders as the Institute of Directors Boost event on Friday, April 27 at IoD headquarters at Riddel Hall, Stranmillis hosts its of how the system works and how in Belfast. It aims to offer an understanding firms can Chris Thompson, left, who has experience benefit. Speakers include former civil servant and now business advisor, of IoD chairman Mervyn McCall and divisional the procurement process from both sides of the fence. He is pictured with director, Linda Brown To book go to www.iod.com/northernire land/events or call 028 90 683224
a.mcgill@newsletter.co.uk
Laurence Robertson made the comment as senior figures from Northern Irelands three main airports addressed the committees inquiry on an air transport strategy for Northern Ireland, which began at Stormont yesterday. A range of issues are being scru-
THe chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminister has stressed that strong airport links are essential to help grow Northern Irelands economy.
tinised including the lack of pubLaurence Robertson said lic transport links to and between the Airport; Brian Ambrose, committee of MPs would be chief ex- Northern Ireland Northern Irelands airports, and and foreign tourthe ing a diverse range of views. hear- ecutive, George Best Belfast City implications of the takeover of ists spend 195m a year in Northern It re- Airport; Damien Tierney, BMI ally is very important that managing by British Airways parent company we secure Ireland and account for 360,000 director, City of Derry Airport, these routes from Northern Ireland visClive IAG. Coleman, technical director, Parsons its 150,000 of whom arrive by to London and the rest of the air.It The deal which was completed UK also emerged that Northern Ireland terms of business and peoples in Brinckerhoff and Albert Harrison, last Friday will see British Airways per- non-executive director, benefits directly from having sonal travel, he said. City of Deroperate the service between George a glory Airport. Since we got the committee bal hub in Britain, with Heathrow Best Belfast City Airport and up Information released by the NorthLon- and running again after directly supporting 1,000 tourism don Heathrow - a route which the election, ern Ireland Chamber of had weve looked at the economy, been operated by BMI. busi- and the British AirportsCommerce jobs and 900 airport jobs in Northness issues, and we want to play Authority ern Ireland. While the Belfast to Heathrow our in February stated that one part in transforming the economy in ten route is protected under the in The influential Northern jobs in Northern Ireland depend deal, Northern Ireland. Ireabout 100 staff employed by BMI on foreign investment, and half land Affairs Committee includes at Leading figures in the sector of a Belfast City Airport were told who those companies can earlier number of local MPs including came before the committee yesteronly reach this month that their jobs could Latheir home market through be dySylvia Hermon, Naomi Long, day included John Doran, managa hub at risk. Dr airport. It was also revealed that ing director, Belfast International Alasdair McDonnell, Ian Paisley aviation supports 1bn of exports and from David Simpson.
SIX years after Belfasts High Court found that he had broken the law, Peter Hain will today again find himself in that same court. In the first stage of a contempt
of court action which will have vast implications for both the extent to which politicians can criticise the judiciary and the independence of northern Irelands new attorney general, the former secretary of state faces allegations that a verbal attack on Lord Justice girvan undermined justice. But unlike the High Court
censure which in 2006 went largely unnoticed in London and did nothing to harm Mr Hains political career, todays case has already attracted so much attention across the UK that journalists have been asked to register to attend this mornings brief hearing which is expected to be in a packed courtroom.
The action by Attorney general John Larkin has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum in both Westminster and Stormont, but last night the veteran solicitor John McBurney said that Mr Larkin had no option but to prosecute. see pages 6 & 7