Latest news with #SafeguardingtheUnion
Belfast Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
UK's reset of its relationship with the EU will open up real opportunities for Northern Ireland
Next, on Monday, the UK played host to the first-ever UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London as we set out to build a new partnership with the European Union. In recent years our relationship with the EU has — at times — been strained, but in an era in which global instability is rising, it makes sense to build stronger ties with our European friends and neighbours. And then, on Thursday, we marked the anniversary of the referenda on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement held in Northern Ireland and Ireland. By voting 'yes', the people chose and secured a chance for peace in Northern Ireland; a peace which has lasted in the almost three decades since and helped pave the way for Northern Ireland's transformation. It was an agreement which remains to this day proof of the power of courageous political leadership, and people's willingness to compromise in hope of a better future. The agreement with the European Union will help to create growth and lower household bills across the UK as a whole. It is a particularly good deal for Northern Ireland. Our economy is already vibrant — think of our aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing, and film and television industries — and this agreement will further help Northern Ireland which experienced stronger growth than the United Kingdom as a whole last year. Peace has delivered real economic benefits. Of particular significance will be the deal we reached on agrifood and plants, which will smooth flows of trade, ease the frictions for businesses and protect the UK internal market. Applying the same rules across the UK will give businesses greater certainty, and mean we can eliminate paperwork and mandatory identity and physical checks on goods moving under these arrangements. All of this will save up to £1 million a month for those firms using the 'red lane' and we'll see a real difference in garden centres, with bans on so-called 'high risk' plants being eliminated — a commitment made in Safeguarding the Union — and plants being able to move within the UK without barriers. This deal will also maintain Northern Ireland's unique access to both the UK and EU markets and the advantages that the Windsor Framework offers to businesses and the economy. So, it's no surprise that businesses have welcomed it. The Ulster Farmers' Union called it 'a major step forward for Northern Ireland's agri-food industry'. The Horticultural Trades Association have said that their sector will save millions. And big name retailers such as Asda and M&S have praised the removal of frictions too. The message is clear from business — this is good news for Northern Ireland and good news for you. The other outcomes of Monday's summit are also good for Northern Ireland. Our new security and defence partnership with the EU will support our national security and the aerospace, defence and space industry which is already home to more than 9,000 jobs in Northern Ireland. Our closer law enforcement relationship with the EU will help prevent crime. Closer cooperation on decarbonisation and energy will lower prices and make our country greener and more resilient. And it'll become easier to travel to mainland Europe through e-Gates. Northern Ireland's prosperity is intrinsically linked to its strong relationship with the rest of the UK, and it can only benefit further from our new partnership with the EU. The steps we are taking will bring practical benefits, and Monday's summit makes me even more confident that Northern Ireland's economy will continue to flourish as a thriving and growing part of the UK.
Belfast Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Hilary Benn: UK's reset of its relationship with the EU will open up real opportunities for Northern Ireland
Next, on Monday, the UK played host to the first-ever UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London as we set out to build a new partnership with the European Union. In recent years our relationship with the EU has — at times — been strained, but in an era in which global instability is rising, it makes sense to build stronger ties with our European friends and neighbours. And then, on Thursday, we marked the anniversary of the referenda on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement held in Northern Ireland and Ireland. By voting 'yes', the people chose and secured a chance for peace in Northern Ireland; a peace which has lasted in the almost three decades since and helped pave the way for Northern Ireland's transformation. It was an agreement which remains to this day proof of the power of courageous political leadership, and people's willingness to compromise in hope of a better future. The agreement with the European Union will help to create growth and lower household bills across the UK as a whole. It is a particularly good deal for Northern Ireland. Our economy is already vibrant — think of our aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing, and film and television industries — and this agreement will further help Northern Ireland which experienced stronger growth than the United Kingdom as a whole last year. Peace has delivered real economic benefits. Of particular significance will be the deal we reached on agrifood and plants, which will smooth flows of trade, ease the frictions for businesses and protect the UK internal market. Applying the same rules across the UK will give businesses greater certainty, and mean we can eliminate paperwork and mandatory identity and physical checks on goods moving under these arrangements. All of this will save up to £1 million a month for those firms using the 'red lane' and we'll see a real difference in garden centres, with bans on so-called 'high risk' plants being eliminated — a commitment made in Safeguarding the Union — and plants being able to move within the UK without barriers. This deal will also maintain Northern Ireland's unique access to both the UK and EU markets and the advantages that the Windsor Framework offers to businesses and the economy. So, it's no surprise that businesses have welcomed it. The Ulster Farmers' Union called it 'a major step forward for Northern Ireland's agri-food industry'. The Horticultural Trades Association have said that their sector will save millions. And big name retailers such as Asda and M&S have praised the removal of frictions too. The message is clear from business — this is good news for Northern Ireland and good news for you. The other outcomes of Monday's summit are also good for Northern Ireland. Our new security and defence partnership with the EU will support our national security and the aerospace, defence and space industry which is already home to more than 9,000 jobs in Northern Ireland. Our closer law enforcement relationship with the EU will help prevent crime. Closer cooperation on decarbonisation and energy will lower prices and make our country greener and more resilient. And it'll become easier to travel to mainland Europe through e-Gates. Northern Ireland's prosperity is intrinsically linked to its strong relationship with the rest of the UK, and it can only benefit further from our new partnership with the EU. The steps we are taking will bring practical benefits, and Monday's summit makes me even more confident that Northern Ireland's economy will continue to flourish as a thriving and growing part of the UK.
The Independent
03-03-2025
- General
- The Independent
Digital collection of oldest English language daily newspaper to be boosted
Historic editions of the world's oldest English language daily newspaper still in circulation are to be digitised by the Government. The News Letter, first published in September 1737, will this year mark its 288th anniversary as the oldest continuously published English language daily paper. The Northern Ireland Office is working in partnership with the British Library and FindMyPast to expand the online collection of the publication in the British Newspaper Archive. The digitisation will make copies from the 18th to the 20th centuries of the Belfast title accessible online for the first time. Originals of the News Letter are being provided in microfilm and newspaper format by the British Library to be digitised by the online platform Findmypast, which has spent nearly 15 years working on a collaborative project to digitise the British Library's vast newspaper collection. Secretary of State Hilary Benn visited Belfast's Linen Hall Library to view historic copies of the News Letter. Mr Benn said: 'The News Letter's status as the longest-running continuously published English language daily newspaper in the world is an important part of Northern Ireland's unique cultural heritage. 'As set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, the UK Government is committed to digitising these historical archives to promote the richness of Northern Ireland's traditions around the world, including in nations with historic ties, such as the United States. 'This will also ensure that these precious historical records are preserved and accessible for generations to come.' Sarah Bush, managing director of Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive, said: 'Alongside the British Library, we're delighted to make this unique and culturally important title available to be searched and viewed on Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive, offering a fascinating window into centuries of Northern Ireland's history as it happened.' Beth Gaskell, lead curator of news and moving image at the British Library, said: 'We are thrilled to be collaborating with Findmypast and the UK Government to build on the existing collection of the News Letter available through the British Newspaper Archive.' David Montgomery, executive chairman of the News Letter's owners, National World plc, said: 'For four centuries The News Letter has been in the front line of local and global news and opinion – it was already in its 40th year when it covered the US Declaration of Independence. 'The digital archive is an eternal reminder of that crucial, continuing role of reliable independent journalism.' The digitisation project will see Findmypast digitise pages of the Belfast News Letter using specialist microfilm scanners, which scan thousands of newspaper pages every day, in its studio at the British Library's facility in Boston Spa. This ensures the faithful reproduction of the newspaper as it once appeared and enables online searching of the newspaper by name, keyword, date, or specific location. The digitisation process will be completed this spring. Once online, people will be able to access the editions free of charge by visiting libraries with a subscription to Findmypast, including the British Library's sites in St Pancras, London and Boston Spa, Yorkshire. They will also be accessible to people around the world with a subscription to the Findmypast or British Newspaper Archive websites.
