Excitement growing around 2012 Games as torchbearers and street route revealed

Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has given details of the street routes and the inspirational torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame when it visits Ireland in June.

 


The Olympic Torch relay begins in East Belfast on Sunday the 3 June and over the course of the relay it will be within ten miles of 95% of the local population.



Speaking at Stormont, which is part of the torch route, Sports Minister, Carál Ni Chuilín said: "This is a real opportunity for the entire island to shine as the torch visits between 3 June and 7 June. The relay will showcase and celebrate our torchbearers who are inspirational people who do so much for their local communities.


"As the torch journeys across the country, from Belfast to Derry to Aughnacloy, Banbridge and Larne over the four day celebration, the eyes of the world will be on our beautiful landscape and iconic buildings and our amazing cultural and sporting achievements.



"Excitement is growing now that local people can begin to plan where the torchbearers will be carrying the torch in their areas and plan to celebrate the arrival in their communities."



The torch will visit Dublin on Wednesday 6 June 2012. 

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring said: "The visit of the Olympic Flame in June will be a wonderful opportunity for Ireland to be even more closely involved with the 2012 London Olympic Games and for Irish people to be part of the biggest sporting event in the world."


The Minister added "Tourism also has the opportunity to benefit from the international media focus on the island of Ireland as the Olympic Torch Relay comes here for the first time and I know the tourism agencies will be doing everything they can to maximise the benefits."

More information about the streets through which the Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame is available from the Olympic Torch Relay - London2012 website 

The Torchbearers announced today include those that were successful through the public nomination processes run by LOCOG and the Presenting Partners, Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung. Each Torchbearer has also had confirmed the details of what day and in which community in the North they will be carrying the Flame. LOCOG has endeavoured to slot Torchbearers within an hour of their nomination address so family and friends can cheer them on. 

The Torchbearers are listed by the community they are carrying the Olympic Flame in at Olympic Torch Relay - London2012 website together with a selection of their inspiring stories. The remaining Torchbearers will be confirmed over the coming months.



An average of 115 Torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame en route to the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012.



The overnight stops and evening celebrations in the North of Ireland leg of the Olympic Torch Relay are Newry, Derry, Portrush and Belfast. These are taking place between the 3rd and 7th of June 2012. Further information about celebrations and is available from Local District Councils.



Local pay - the Government's cash grab from Northern Ireland

Statement from Finance Minister Sammy Wilson


"This morning's rumours that the Chancellor is set to announce local pay variations for those who work in the public sector in the budget on Wednesday will have immense impact on poorer regions and local administrations such as Northern Ireland Executive.


"First of all, although the measure has been suggested by the Government sometime ago it was always understood that there would be input from local representatives on National Pay Negotiation Bodies giving vital information as to whether or not there was even a problem caused by national pay awards.


"Finance Ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have already expressed their opposition to this proposal in recent meetings with Treasury Ministers and had been assured that the implementation of any proposal was on the long finger and not imminent. That assurance was given as little as two weeks ago.


"Secondly this proposal addresses a problem that doesn't even exist. There is no evidence that National agreed public sector wages create problems for the private sector in recruiting workers.


"That is evidence by the fact that with high levels of unemployment the private sector has been able to reduce wages not only in Northern Ireland but in other parts of the UK and where there are labour shortages it is very often in an area where the private sector are not competing with the public sector.


"This policy is really another excuse to grab cash from Devolved Administrations and from poorer regions of the UK in an attempt to balance the Treasury books. The wage freeze which many public sector workers will face could last for years the saving will simply be reduced from the block grants that will be made to the Devolved Administrations reducing further the level of economic activity and spending in those areas, deflating local economies and causing even greater inequality across the UK.


"This is a measure with wide ramifications for individuals and for our economy as a whole and will certainly be vigorously opposed not just by ourselves but by the other two administrations as well as MP's from across the UK since it will impact with equal consequences in the North East, the North West and the South West of England."

Robinson and McGuinness welcome Oscar winning team to Stormont

First Minister the Rt. Hon. Peter D. Robinson MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA tonight hosted a special reception for the local creative team behind the Oscar winning short film, 'The Shore'.

Pictured L-R deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Terry George, Oorlagh George 

and First Minister Peter Robinson. The Shore was written and directed by Terry George and produced by his daughter Oorlagh on location in Coney Island, Co Down.

Welcoming the top class cast along with director Terry George and his family, including daughter Oorlagh who was the film's producer, the Ministers praised the picture after a special screening in Parliament Buildings. They said: "This is a delightful tale, beautifully told and acted. It is a superb film - a little gem. Shot on location at Coney Island in County Down, not only does it showcase our world-beating local creative talent, but it gives a worldwide audience a glimpse of the unique beauty of our homeland.

"Congratulations to Terry and Oorlagh and the hugely talented cast who have added to our rapidly growing status in the creative industries.

"The success of 'The Shore' is global recognition of the Executive's continued support to our local film industry which has attracted major players such as HBO and Universal Studios. And, it also reminds the World that this is an exciting place to work, learn and visit."

Why it’s not all gloom on the economy

The First Minister the Rt Hon Peter D. Robinson MLA and the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP MLA presented a positive pitch for the local economy during an address to business leaders at Stormont tonight.

The message was robust and forthright as both men sought to banish the prevailing blues encouraged by the recession. They were addressing the annual President’s dinner of the Northern Ireland Assembly Business Trust and in his remarks Mr Robinson put the focus very firmly on our business success: “The Executive is working with business to develop policies to help grow our economy. The significant reduction in the capital budget from Westminster and the withdrawal by the Republic of Ireland of the greater part of its support for the A5 road scheme left us with many challenges, but last week’s capital announcement of £583million for roads and hospitals shows that we are determined to press ahead with our ambitious proposals.

“The feedback we have received on the draft Programme for Government has been encouraging. There is clear recognition that it balances the need to grow the economy while addressing social need. This is an essential combination that will help to put Northern Ireland in a better strategic position for the future.”

Mr Robinson pointed out that while the Executive was tackling the economy in every way that it could, news headlines could sometimes impact adversely.

He said: “The reality is that too often, the media are the purveyors of the gloom and doom. In turn despondency becomes a self fulfilling prophesy, because people who are unsure of the future, or have been spooked about it, become unwilling to spend and businesses lose interest in the potential to invest.

“We are absolutely committed to bringing more and better jobs to Northern Ireland. In the coming months we will travel to India and China to seek to develop trading links and encourage investment. We hope that in time we can replicate the success we have achieved in the US in these new markets.”

The deputy First Minister took up the theme of maximising the local economy’s exporting potential: “We are inspired by the entrepreneurial attitude of our local private sector. There is an acknowledgement that a strong and vibrant private sector, with capability to trade worldwide, is the key to assisting economic recovery and future growth.

"We appeal to those representing local businesses tonight to utilise the invaluable resources offered by Invest NI in developing your export potential.

“The Executive is in a position where we have a range of policies and initiatives in place which can and will make a difference and it is now up to us all to take the next step.

"We have every intention of doing so.”

What’s good about our local economy:

• Unemployment is still too high in Northern Ireland, but it remains the lowest of any region in the UK and much lower than the Republic of Ireland or EU average.
• Northern Ireland consistently outperforms other UK regions in national exams at age 16 and 18.
• At £12.4billion, even with exports to the Republic of Ireland falling, the value of manufactured goods sold abroad by Northern Ireland recovered to virtually their pre-recession level and sales to Great Britain achieved a new record.
• Belfast has the third highest levels of GVA in the UK, behind only Edinburgh and London.
• R&D, which is crucial to the development of our economy, increased by 6% last year to £344million.
• Belfast is the second most attractive city in the UK after London for Foreign Direct Investment, particularly in technology and financial services.
• In the last three years Northern Ireland (with a population share of only 2.8%) has won 7% of all Foreign Direct Investment attracted to the UK.
• Belfast is now among the world’s Top 10 cities for financial technology investments ahead of Dublin, Glasgow, Toronto and Bangalore.
• Nearly two thirds of investors here have ploughed additional capital into Northern Ireland. These companies include Allstate, Cybersource, Citi, Fujitsu and HBO.
• A total of 35% of all computer read/write heads are made at Seagate Technology in the UK’s largest nanotechnology site.
• Randox Laboratories sells to 130 countries around the world.
• Heartsine in Belfast makes portable defibrillators as featured on ‘ER’ and in the emergency medical kit at the White House.
• BE Aerospace in Kilkeel makes 30% of the worlds Business Class seats.
• A total of 40% of the world’s mobile stone crushing and gravel screening equipment is made in Northern Ireland.
• Wrightbus sells its new ‘Streetcar’ to Las Vegas and Hong Kong and has also designed London’s latest ‘Routemaster’.
• 2012 will be an epic year for tourism in Northern Ireland with the opening of The MAC, the Titanic Signature Project, the new Visitor Centre at the Giant’s Causeway and the return of the Irish Open Golf Tournament.