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Banbridge Business Politics

VAT Cut Must Be Extended! – Lockhart

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to call for an extension to the cut in VAT for our hospitality sector, and a return to the 5% rate that was enacted earlier in the pandemic. Carla Lockhart said: “Our hospitality industry is in crisis. I am speaking with local businesses […]

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Business Portadown

McCabe’s Marks 100 Years

Local MP Carla Lockhart has congratulated Portadown based bicycle shop McCabe’s on marking 100 years in business, serving the community of Portadown and beyond. Carla Lockhart said: “To be in business for a century is a remarkable achievement. So many people in Portadown got “on their bike” for the first time following a purchase at […]

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Business

Spend Local Card Scheme Extended

🚨 Update on Spend Local Cards 🚨 We are aware that a number of people got their cards late and weren’t able to spend them. Therefore these card holders will be able to use their cards from 9am on Friday 24 December until 11.59pm on Friday 7 January. Those who are affected will be contacted […]

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Business Louth

EWSS and CRSS Extension a Relief for the Hospitality Sector – O’Dowd

Local Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd has said that the extension of the EWSS at full rate as well as the CRSS, will come as a great relief to businesses in the hospitality and events sectors. O’Dowd said “My colleague, Minister Paschal Donohoe, announced today that the Government have extended the EWSS at the full […]

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Business Politics

Executive Draft Budget Prioritises Health – Murphy

Finance Minister, Conor Murphy has today unveiled the Executive’s Draft Budget which prioritises health and social care.  A 12 week consultation period on the proposals set out in the draft Budget will commence on Monday 13 December giving the public the opportunity to have their say. Announcing the Draft 2022-2025 Budget, Minister Murphy said: “The Executive […]

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Business Politics

More Tax Breaks For The Business Class – Workers Party

Light-touch regulation, Freeports, and Enterprise Zones are the centrepieces of the recent Belfast Chamber of Commerce report, ‘Empowering Belfast’. Its stated aim is to devolve power from Stormont to local councils: and to Belfast City Council in particular. Despite its fanfare launch and the accompanying hype it is unlikely to deliver anything of substance for working […]

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Armagh Business Community Newry Politics South Armagh

McNulty Calls on Economy Minister to Redeploy High Street Voucher Scheme Funding

SDLP Assembly Member Justin McNulty has called on the Economy Minister to ensure that unspent funds from the High Street Voucher Scheme are reallocated to boost social protections this winter. Speaking as the Spend Local Scheme draws to a close, the Newry & Armagh MLA commented: ‘I have been lobbying the Economy Minister to ensure […]

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Armagh Banbridge Business Community Lurgan Newry Portadown South Armagh South Down

Spend Local Deadline Extended Until 19th December

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons today announced that the High Street Scheme will be extended by five days to 19 December. The Minister also urged anyone with any balance left on their £100 Spend Local cards to use it now. He said: “The High Street Scheme is working well. The benefits are clearly flowing through to our […]

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Business

High Street Voucher Scheme Closes on the 14th of December

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has urged all Spend Local cardholders to “spend it now, spend it all and spend it local”. The Minister said: “To date over 1.3 million Spend Local cards have been dispatched, with over one million activated and in use. Already over £50m has been injected into our retail, hospitality and service sectors […]

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Business Politics South Armagh

SDLP Councillor Pete Byrne Elected Chair of Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC) Oversight Board

A new cross-border partnership established to foster economic growth along the key strategic route between Dublin and Belfast has today announced its inaugural political leadership team who will help drive employment opportunities, address barriers impacting trade and encourage the delivery of better transport infrastructure. Councillor Pete Byrne from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council was elected […]

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Politics

Nationalise Energy Production Now! – Workers Party

Fuel poverty is a harsh reality. The ‘official’ figure in Northern Ireland is 22% of households. Fuel poverty charities are now warning that recent energy price increases will push thousands of additional households into further fuel poverty. The current energy crisisis a symptom of the crisis underlying global capitalism. The working class, the unemployed, the […]

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Business Politics South Armagh

Murphy Welcomes Living Wage Announcement

Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin MLA for Newry Armagh and Finance Minister has made it a condition for anyone who gets a government contract to pay their workers a living wage.  This measure will come into effect next year and will put more money into the pockets of thousands of workers. Conor said:  ““Every worker should […]