Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 24 August

Forward Look                                

  • The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has published papers on housing and property as part of Spending Review policy analysis. To view, click HERE.

  • A review of the Government’s Statutory Framework for Ethics in Public Life will be published in the coming weeks, setting out proposals for legislative reform.

  • Opposition parties have called for Enterprise Minister of State, Robert Troy TD to make a statement regarding declaration of assets on the return of the Dáil, Wednesday 14 September.

  • Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council have unveiled a ‘City Edge Strategic Framework’, laying out a 50-year plan to transform west of the city. To view, click HERE.

  • The Department for Further and Higher Education will shortly publish an updated ‘National Access Plan’ for 2022-26 to improve access to higher education.

  • In autumn, the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, reforming the appointments process to any court in Ireland, will be introduced to the Seanad.

  • The process to appoint a permanent Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland is expected to continue into next year, according to media reports. An interim Chief Executive will be appointed next month.

  • On Tuesday 30 August, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) will publish labour market statistics for Q2 and the latest air and sea travel figures.

  • On Thursday 8 September, the European Central Bank is expected to announce a further interest rate increase.

  • On Thursday 13 October, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue TD will host an agri-food policy summit at Dublin Castle.

  • The British Irish Chamber of Commerce has appointed Maree Gallagher as President and Jeanne Kelly as Vice-President. The Chamber’s Annual Networking Dinner will take place on Thursday 8 September. For more information, click HERE.

  • Irish Times Editor Paul O’Neill will step down later this year. A recruitment process will begin immediately. Hugh O’Connell has been appointed Deputy Political Editor at the Irish Independent.

Other Stories this week

  • A review of An Bord Pleanála has been commenced by the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and will be completed by 30 November.

  • The Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure met with independent TDs for pre-Budget talks. The Coalition Government is currently one seat short of a majority.

  • The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has announced a new national electronic platform for public sector procurement.

  • Cork City Council has launched the first of three City Development Plans for 2022 – 2028 focused on job creation, housing and transport. To view, click HERE.

  • Eurozone inflation reached 8.9% in the year to July, according to European Commission data.

  • TikTok has agreed a deal to lease a new warehouse at Dublin’s docklands for 800 additional workers.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 8 September, British Irish Chamber Annual Networking Dinner.

  • 14 September, Dáil Éireann returns from summer recess.

  • 16 – 17 September, Dublin Economics Workshop Annual Policy Conference.

  • 22 September, IBEC President’s Dinner.

  • 27 September, Budget Day.

  • 29 – 30 September, Centre for Cross Border Studies’ Annual Conference.

  • 30 September – 1 October, Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis.

  • 6 October, Construction Industry Federation Annual Conference.

  • 11 – 12 October, Hospitality Expo 2022.

  • 20 October, Dublin Chamber Annual Dinner.

  • 22 October, Fianna Fáil Taoiseach’s Dinner.

Consultations

An Taoiseach set to address Cross Border Conference

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to address the Centre for Cross Border Studies Annual Conference on 29 September.

Prestigious Centre for Cross Border Studies set to host 23rd Annual Conference with leaders from UK, Ireland, and Europe

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to address the Centre for Cross Border Studies highly anticipated 23rd Annual Conference on 29 and 30 September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk.

The Centre’s first in-person conference since the pandemic will focus on Commitment, Resilience and Perseverance: New challenges and approaches to cross-border cooperation, mobility, and relations, exploring pertinent issues in cross-border cooperation across two days, bringing together government officials, policy experts and leading academics.

The Taoiseach will deliver a keynote speech on 29 September focused on the Government’s commitment to work with all communities on the island to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.

The British Ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnston, and Bernadette McAliskey will also address the conference.

A business breakfast and three panels focused on cooperation, mobility and relations will take place on the 29 September with a dinner later that evening that will have Brian Rowan (author and former BBC correspondent) as a guest speaker. Technical workshops focused on practical issues affecting cross-border and all-island organisations will be held on 30 September.

The conference comes at a time when the Centre published the results of its sixth quarterly survey on the conditions for North-South and East-West Cooperation which found that the political and social context for cooperation has been impacted by the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

Other speakers at the CCBS 23rd Annual Conference include:

  • Director of Public Policy at The Wheel, Ivan Cooper

  • Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Owen Reidy

  • Director of Trade at Flint Global, Sam Lowe

  • Vice President and Registrar at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dr Sheila Flanagan

  • Executive Dean at Dublin City University Institute of Education, Professor Anne Looney

  • Research Fellow at Queens University Belfast, Dr Lisa Claire Whitten

  • President of the EU-UK Follow-up Committee of the EESC, Jack O’Connor

Dr Anthony Soares, Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies

Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, Dr Anthony Soares said:

“A cornerstone of our political and social engagement is our Annual Conference that brings together influential individuals to discuss the need for cooperation based on mutual understanding. Through these discussions we encourage our stakeholders to use their different outlooks to identify solutions and opportunities for collaboration.

“Taoiseach Micheál Martin agreeing to address our conference is a clear testament to the high-quality research and discussions that the Centre provides. We look forward to listening to his timely contribution while we work with everyone to rebuild strained relationships.

“The Centre for Cross Border Studies high-quality research is recognised as an essential resource for policy-makers and decision-makers. Since our foundation we have sought to promote the prosperity of all through our engagement with prominent politicians, policy-makers, and academics.

“The next few months are a critical time. With relationships strained like never before, and with the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement on the horizon it has never been as important to renew relationships with a sense of energy and focus for all of our people.

“The Centre offers great opportunities to those looking to get involved in a wider conversation about the key issues impacting this region. We encourage anyone interested in taking part in this conversation to attend, or sponsor, our Annual Conference to gain an understanding of how the Centre facilitates these important discussions.” 

The conference will also launch the renowned 2022 ‘Journal of Cross Border Studies in Ireland’ which brings together written contributions from academics and cross-border practitioners. As well as some of speakers at the conference, other contributors to this year’s edition include:

  • Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin, Etain Tannam

  • Research Assistant at the Constitution Unit, King’s College London, Conor J. Kelly

  • Immigration Project Coordinator at the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Úna Boyd

  • Lecturer at Cardiff University, Giada Lagana

  • Former Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Sir David Sterling

The Centre for Cross Border Studies is now offering new sponsorship opportunities for its Conference. The sponsorship packages provide a range of benefits and give organisations and individuals the opportunity to work with the Centre to enhance their own research and work.

Economy Minister congratulates students on Further Education success on results day

Visual Arts Student, Billie Atkinson; Creative Media Student, Rory McManus; Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA; Creative Media Student Conor Maguire and Hospitality Student, Kamryn McQuade.

Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, has met with Further Education students at South West College to pass on his congratulations as they received results today.

Across Northern Ireland, thousands of students from the six further education colleges have received results in A-Level, BTEC and Higher National Diplomas.

Attending South West College’s Erne Campus, the Minister also discussed with students and teaching staff the hundreds of opportunities open to learners seeking Higher Level options including Foundation degrees, Higher Level Apprenticeships, and HNDs in subjects such as Accountancy, Business Studies, Health and Life Sciences and Hospitality.

Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA said:

“I want to congratulate all those receiving their results today and for all their hard work and determination. The skills of our workforce are central to achieving our goal of making Northern Ireland one of the world’s elite small economies. I want to ensure learners have access to the qualifications employers need and support progression towards their chosen career pathways.

“I would encourage everyone to explore the opportunities and options available to them in both further and higher education or through training and apprenticeships. My Department offers free and impartial advice through our Careers Service and contact details can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers.”

Interim Chief Executive and Principal of South West College, Leo Murphy said:

“It was great to welcome the Minister to South West College today and for him to send his best wishes to all of our students who have done incredibly well in this year’s results. It is their hard work and dedication that should be rightly celebrated today.

“We are also encouraging all students receiving results today to consider their options at their local Further Education college. The courses and opportunities on offer this year to school leavers who choose to study at their local Further Education college are first-class and offer a promising next step in their education.

“Across Northern Ireland there are alternative routes to university degree or employment at local Further Education colleges and students can still reach their end destination by taking on a higher education course or foundation degree in a Further Education college first.

“Our ability to create courses in collaboration with industry, means that our learners leave college with the professional and technical qualifications they need to go straight into well-paid jobs and promising careers, or progress onto university with a well-rounded qualification already. Our accessibility means we are open to all kinds of learners from school leavers to those looking to re-skill or re-train.”

Chair of South West College’s Governing Body, Dr Nicholas O’Shiel said:

"The skills provided at SWC ensure Further Education college graduates have the fit-for-purpose competencies employers demand.

"So, with employers crying out for skilled workers, we are an increasingly relevant destination for school leavers, and I encourage all of them to look at what life-changing courses are on offer.

“This can be anxious time and young people and parents don’t always know what career courses or learning opportunities are available to them. Some people may have performed under their expectations, while others may be unsure about which route to take.

“It is vital that young people are aware of the range of options available, to help them make better, informed choices and I would encourage them to come along to their Further Education college to hear their options. Our goal is to make it easier and more accessible for school leavers to source all the information they need to make informed decisions about their future.”

To find out more information about the higher education options at local FE Colleges visit www.furthereducationni.com

Coleraine and Newtownards Win High Streets of the Year

The joint winners of High Street of the Year, Coleraine and Newtownards, join Chief Executive of Retail NI, Glyn Roberts and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lord Caine at the High Street Hero Awards.

Coleraine and Newtownards have jointly scooped the prestigious High Street of the Year award, battling High Streets across Northern Ireland for the coveted prize, while Wardens of Newtownards received the sought-after Overall Retailer of the Year award and Shauna Corrigan from McGrane’s in Keady being voted Northern Irelands best retail employee.

Over ten thousand votes were cast for Retail NI’s High Street Heroes awards, with old favourites and new faces picking up gold, silver, and bronze across a range of categories. The initiative shone a light on Northern Ireland’s independent retailers, with the public choosing their favourite retailers in an online vote.

In an exclusive reception at Hinch Distillery, retailers across the region were celebrated with Chill Off-Licence in Derry/Londonderry, Harkins Pharmacy in Maghera and Murrays Nearby in Cullyhanna all picking up gold. Northern Ireland Office Minister Lord Caine addressed the event.

High Street Heroes NI was a joint initiative from Retail NI and Belfast Live supported by Camelot and Voice for Locals.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lord Caine, who presented the award, said:

“I congratulate Coleraine and Newtownards on winning the prestigious High Street of the Year Award, which highlights how highly valued retailers in these areas are to their local communities.

“The UK Government is committed to making NI a better place to live, work, invest, and do business, and we will continue to support the growth of Northern Ireland’s high streets by building a stronger economy and through major investment such as the Levelling Up Fund and the upcoming UK Shared Prosperity Fund.”

Retail NI Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts said:

“The High Street Heroes Awards is a wonderful celebration of Northern Ireland’s independent retailers. The winners are based across Northern Ireland showing a brilliant regional response to the campaign and emphasising the community support for retailers.

“It has been a very difficult year for independent retailers, but this campaign has shone a light on how valued they are in their community, and the vital role they play in keeping the local economy alive. As they work to remain viable in this difficult business climate, it is only right that we celebrate and champion the sector.

“It is really good to see many independent retailers from some of our smaller rural towns getting the recognition they deserve at our High Street Hero Awards.”

Retail Director of Camelot, Jenny Blogg said:

“As the operator of the National Lottery Fund, we know the importance of local, independent retailers and the value they provide both customers and the economy. We are thrilled that we have been able once again to support this initiative and continue to promote the hard work and value of those who make our local high streets.”

Voice For Locals Founder, Jay Thattai, said:

"We all have our personal favourite local independent retailers close to where we live. It has never been more important to voice for locals and really show how important they are to communities across Northern Ireland. It is those retailers who encourage people into cities, towns and villages to enjoy the unique local choices, quality and personal touch on offer.”

"It is brilliant to see local consumers voting for their favourite independent retailers and being proud of the fantastic contribution they make to the high streets."

Northern Ireland raises £800k for DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal

Aina* (30), a mother and beneficiary of a cash distribution programme, with two of her children in Daykundi Province, Afghanistan on 28 May 2022. *Pseudonym used

The people of Northern Ireland have raised over £800,000 for families in Afghanistan facing acute hunger, cold, and lack of medical care as part of the DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.

Launched in December to raise urgent funds for humanitarian response in the country, the appeal has raised an incredible £50 million in the UK, including £10 million matched by the UK Government.

This generosity has allowed DEC charities to provide a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan, where drought, economic collapse and rising global food prices have pushed millions to the brink of famine.

In Northern Ireland, the DEC brings together the charities Concern Worldwide, Save the Children, the British Red Cross and Tearfund.

In the first six months of the appeal, DEC funds have supported: 

  • Over 243,000 people with cash assistance, giving them flexibility to meet their own family’s unique needs, for example to buy food, medicines or fuel.

  • Over 131,000 people with emergency food supplies including, for instance, wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses, salt and rice.

  • Over 100,000 people with health services, including medicines, vaccines and maternal and newborn care.

  • Over 2,900 children under five and pregnant or lactating women with treatment for acute malnutrition.

Abdul-Karim* (56) walks with the help of a cane in the Daykundi Province, Afghanistan on 28 May 2022. * Pseudonym used

Despite this, a crisis of this magnitude is not quickly resolved. Some 18.9 million people - nearly half the population - are estimated to remain acutely food insecure, while 3.9 million children are acutely malnourished. 

DEC funds are continuing to support people in Afghanistan. As well as emergency support, the charity is helping to build for a more stable future, including funding water and irrigation schemes to help counter the drought, cash for work projects so breadwinners can support their families while doing work that benefits the community, and livelihoods initiatives and vocational training to help people get back on their feet. 

Kevin McCaughan, Senior Institutional Programme Funding Officer at the British Red Cross said:

“People in Afghanistan are facing unimaginable circumstances. We know through our own work in the country that the situation has been dire for many years, yet the last number of months have pushed many more into crisis. This money has gone a long way in providing cash assistance, emergency food supplies and access to healthcare, and we thank the people of Northern Ireland for their support.”

Salah Saeed, CEO of the DEC, said:  

"People in Afghanistan suffered a terrible winter and spring with millions struggling to feed their families. Donations to the DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal have helped provide a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of those most in need, providing food or the money to buy it. The funds are also helping provide specialist treatment for children and mothers suffering acute malnutrition. They've also provided much-needed medical care to at least 100,000 people who had nowhere else to go when they fell ill. Thank you so much to everyone who donated to this appeal. You have made a huge difference to so many people caught up in a crisis far beyond their control and desperately in need of help."  

Lord Mayor joins mini sporting heroes at Summer Sports Day

Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Christina Black with Better Summer Scheme participant Caolan Burke.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Christina Black has joined more than 200 young children from across Belfast to take part in the annual Belfast Summer Sports Day at Olympia Leisure Centre.

Over 1,500 children have been attending the city’s Better Summer Schemes at twelve leisure centres run by social enterprise GLL. The annual sports day celebrates the end of this year’s schemes.

The children who participated tried their hand at more than eight different sports activities including hockey, fencing, athletics, and netball, making new friends from across the community. Inspired by Northern Ireland’s recent success in the Commonwealth games, a boxing station was also on offer.

The young budding sports stars were also joined by some of the city’s most promising young athletes who are supported by the GLL Sport Foundation as part of the social enterprise’s commitment to nurturing local sports talent.

Better Summer Scheme participants Kai, Aidan, Ruby, Rioghanch and James.

Speaking at the Summer Sports Day today, Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Christina Black said:

“It is absolutely fantastic to see so many of our young people enjoying different sporting activities at today’s Better sports day along with some of our national sporting partners. Taking part in sport is not only a great way of fulfilling an active and healthy lifestyle, it is also a brilliant way for young people to come together, meet new people and build friendships.”

“I am delighted to see the next generation using these fantastic Belfast City Council facilities operated by our partner GLL who continue to deliver first class leisure provision for everyone across the city.”

Jonathan Michael, GLL Community Sport Engagement Manager, said:

“After two long years without a Summer Scheme, we have been delighted to welcome children back into centres and provide an action-packed programme for them. We are so pleased to be able to host events like today with the aim of encouraging as many children as possible to get active, make new friends and experience a variety of different sports. We will continue to expand our community sport offering throughout the year as we transform leisure in Belfast for all.”

For more information on the Better Summer Scheme, visit: https://www.better.org.uk/belfast-holiday-scheme 

WhatsApp Privacy Update - What's Changed?

Meta Founder Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled new privacy updates for WhatsApp, the direct messaging app, on Tuesday. He explained that these changes are part of their efforts to continuously build new ways to protect users’ privacy. The new updates include:

·        Members of a group chat will no longer be notified when a user leaves the group – only the admin.

·        Users will be able to determine which contacts can see their online status. 

·        WhatsApp is also testing screenshot-blocking for ‘view once’ messages. This feature was introduced last year, but users were warned that they would not know if the recipient of such a message screenshotted or saved it.

This comes a year after the introduction of a controversial update to WhatsApp’s privacy policy which detailed what user information is shared with Meta, its parent company. This led to users leaving the app in favour of their competitors and the European Commission launching an investigation earlier this year.

Ami Vora, head of product at WhatsApp, said “We believe WhatsApp is the most secure place to have a private conversation. And to spread the word about these new features, we’re also kicking off a global campaign, starting with the UK and India, to educate people about how we work to protect their private conversations on WhatsApp.”

The advertising campaign, which will include a billboard on Wandsworth Roundabout in southwest London, comes as Meta has faced a growing number of criticisms about how its privacy features could be abused by people seeking to evade law enforcement.

Local government calls for greater action on cost-of-living crisis in Northern Ireland

NILGA President Cllr Martin Kearney

The Northern Ireland Local Government Association has called for the creation of a cost-of-living task force to tackle the growing pressures on households and businesses.

NILGA welcomed the recent publication of the NEA survey on fuel poverty in Northern Ireland which puts into perspective the very real difficulties that households are facing. While energy costs are just one element of household costs, the strain that individuals and families are under requires a joined-up response across all sectors.

Local government is committed to doing everything it can to support communities, irrespective of its limited statutory role and finances. Local councils are at the forefront of providing community support, through signposting to government and third sector support, supporting local food banks and social supermarkets as well as funding community centres and capacity building in community groups.

At last week’s Partnership Panel meeting on 2 August between local government and the Communities Minister, local government called for central government to invest in the advice sector to support individuals and families, as well as enhancing flexibility in community based grant funding to enable quick and effective solutions at a local level.

Responding to the survey findings, NILGA President Cllr Martin Kearney said:

“This is a wake up call for national and regional government to find a solution to ensure households in NI can rightly receive the emergency funding which is being allocated elsewhere. In tandem, it is vital that we move forward on those aspects of the Anti-Poverty Strategy which can be advanced in the current political situation. NILGA supports the call for a Task Force to be established with a clear focus on removing barriers to collaboration and to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to support those in need. This Task Force should be inclusive of all public services and include energy companies as well as the community and voluntary sector.”

NILGA is coordinating a regional local government response to the crisis by facilitating the sharing of best practice among the councils. The collaboration between regional and local government and the third sector during the pandemic was critical for a successful response and this collaboration should be central to our resolve to tackle the current crisis.

'Staff retention crisis draining business focus and productivity' writes Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Consulting Partner Donal Laverty

As originally appeared in the Irish News, 9 August 2022.

Consulting Partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore Donal Laverty

The pace of the labour market in Northern Ireland has accelerated sharply in recent months to become a key operational concern for many businesses. Job openings are consistently high, salaries are leaping up and the normalisation of hybrid and flexible working has given candidates the power to shop around for a higher paying role that slots into their lifestyle.

From an employee perspective, this is a seismic shift from twelve months ago when a stable income, job security and a flexible working environment were the main drivers.

The labour market has clearly and fundamentally changed. There is a significant deficit of available staff, increasing pressure on organisations to retain existing staff and an increasingly febrile market where employees are seeking or have in fact been sought out for a competing role. We call it the war on talent, and as the situation rumbles on, it has the potential to wipe out organisational productivity.

Despite the slight stabilisation recorded in the last three months in the latest NI Jobs/ Ulster Bank Jobs Report, the market is still very much controlled by the candidate, with job growth up 67% on the same period pre-pandemic and companies finding gaps from entry to senior management level.

This is a situation that will play out for at least the rest of 2022 and well in 2023. In the meantime, organisations right across the public, private and third sectors run the risk of potentially devastating repercussions.

We talk everyday now of the cost-of-living crisis, a scenario that leaders have been grappling with since almost the very moment Covid-19 began to settle. It is right that we are seeing more frequent announcements of cost-of-living support packages and pay rises in line with inflation, a tactic that no doubt plays into the recruitment and retention response for the companies and organisations that can afford it.

Yet the harsh reality is that not every business can stretch their budget to this, and even those who can must consider whether they have the bandwidth to resource a hike in salaries in the long-term.

In practice, what we are seeing across all sectors is that recruitment and retention is draining the focus, productivity and resources away from day-to-day operations. A notoriously expensive exercise, it requires careful consideration and a significant time commitment in a period when, if we wish to avoid repeating the process in a matter of months, it must be done right.

Whatever the purpose of the organisation, business or charity, the day-to-day reality means pulling senior managers and colleagues away from their workload to recruit new colleagues, restructure existing departments and develop new strategies for employee retention. In doing this, creative thinking, forward planning, and overall productivity inevitably takes a hit.

Add to that the considerations around the cost of doing business and whether salaries here can keep up with inflation, we have a situation where organisational strategy right across the business landscape is being hamstrung by the war on talent.

Although a significant challenge, solutions do exist, and steps can be taken now to ensure the long-term focus isn’t overwhelmed by recruitment matters. In our next piece, we will outline what organisations can do to ensure smooth transitions that protect their productivity in the long-term.

'Time for some vision…Eurovision' writes Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill

As appeared in the Irish News 9 August 2022.

The buzz created around a potential bid for Belfast as host city for Eurovision 2023 is something we haven’t experienced for some time. It’s great to see and hear such enthusiasm for a blue riband event after the successes of the likes of the MTV EMAs and the Giro d’Italia over the past decade.

Belfast is the perfect city to host the cultural phenomenon of Eurovision, ticking all the necessary boxes. It would be remiss of the head honchos at the European Broadcasting Union not to have us right at the top of their list.

However, they still might need convincing. Can we convince them by the two airports on our doorstep, the venues that can seat thousands, the hotels, bars and restaurants that can accommodate, feed and water international guests? Do we need to convince them about our UNESCO Music City status, or possibly our own Eurovision heritage?

Another attribute to support the collective campaign is that our liquor licensing has now been modernised and puts us on a par with any British city which might be thinking of throwing their hat in the ring.

Belfast knows how to hold a party of this size – we’ve done it before. When the MTV European Music Awards were hosted in the city in 2011, official figures highlighted that a £22m direct contribution was made to the local economy, with an extra £10m generated in extra revenue around the event. That is a significant return on investment.

The music awards saw thousands of international guests descend onto our streets with every bar, restaurant and hotel packed for days. This major event 11 years ago could act as the dress rehearsal for Eurovision, which is on an even bigger and far more flamboyant scale.

The Eurovision Song Contest could bring even more to Belfast and beyond with a weeklong celebration, uniting every country in Europe, as well as Israel and Australia. That means tens of thousands of people including artists, production crews, guests and tourists coming to Belfast, and the wider city region, to eat, drink, sleep and explore what Northern Ireland has to offer. It’s worth the effort.

Previous Eurovision contests have brought over £30m in revenue during the seven-day long competition to host cities, with an average of 30,000 attendees. The financial and reputational rewards Eurovision would reap for the wider Belfast area would be immense and a shot in the arm for a hospitality sector under pressure at present.

It has the potential to catapult Belfast onto the world stage with international media broadcasting to every corner of the world. A staggering 161m viewers tuned into Eurovision 2022 – just imagine the positive kick back of having an audience of that size. It also must be taken into consideration that we can provide a little bit of hope for post conflict prosperity and send a message out that things can and do get better. It will not be lost on anyone why this opportunity has come about in the first place.

It is great to hear that some political representatives and organisations with skin in the game are inching towards a potential bid. Hospitality Ulster stands ready to support the city for host status and provide any backing required to get us across the line. Twelve points from us.