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Price: 75p (IR 1.05 EURO) Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The pride of Northern Ireland

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Since 1737

Widows support group gave me strength SEE 16&17

All the action in your No.1 bikes pull-out SEE INSIDE


INSIDE Business
Progressive is building on growth Business home and away
PAGE 27 PAGES 28&37
INNOVATION in the cloud services sector has lead to business worth more than 500,000 in the Irish Republic for Belfast based IT specialists Sysco Software Solutions. Backed by Invest Northern Ireland, the deal with an undisclosed client follows the companys investment last year into the research, development and marketing of a new software application for the rapidly expanding sector. This hosted service management application (HSMA) is designed to enable workers to remain in the field with customers while maintaining full contact with the office to streamline administration. As part of the companys overall investment, Sysco has appointed a product manager and channel sales manager who are responsible for developing the HSMA application and growing sales across the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. Sysco is also implementing a strategic marketing campaign to help build awareness of both the company and its products among poNews Letter, Tuesday, April 24, 2012 23

Spotlight shines on Hain hearing

Make sure the extra help is covered


PAGE 41

Software firm wins 1/2m contract


tential new customers. Brian Dolaghan, Invest NIs director of technology and services, said the contract would help lift the sector as a whole in the province. Securing such a substantial contract in the Republic of Ireland as a result of its investments in innovation and export is a significant achievement for Sysco. This is an ambitious, export focused firm and its success to date will help to develop Northern Irelands ICT sector and generate future employment opportunities for our talented IT graduates. Sysco MD Paul Bingham said Invest NIs support had helped the business develop its own products and enhance its management capabilities to compete for new business outside Northern Ireland. Our HSMA product has significant growth potential and we are delighted with the response to date from customers, he said. Over the coming months, we aim to heighten awareness of our brand and secure further export sales.

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

BY ADRIEnnE McGILL Business Editor

Airport strategy debate takes off

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.

Farmer dies in accident


ULSTERS farming community has been given another stark safety warning after an experienced farmer was killed in a slurry tanker accident. Herbert [Herbie] Rosborough was thrown from his tractor while spreading slurry close to the family farm near Claudy on Saturday. It is believed the tractor and tanker toppled over after slipping on steep land. Mr Rosborough, who was 66 and a father-of-three, was airlifted to Altnagelvin Hospital, where he died a short time later. see page 8

John Larkin QC, Attorney General for Northern Ireland

Peter Hain, former secretary of state

Transfer ban for Rangers


RAngERS have been hit with a 12-month embargo on signing players and owner Craig Whyte has been banned for life following a Scottish Football Association hearing into the clubs financial affairs. Administration-hit Rangers have also been fined a total of 160,000 while Whyte, who had already been deemed unfit to hold an official position in the game by the SFA, was handed fines totalling 200,000. see sport

BY sAm mcBRIdE Political Correspondent


sam.mcbride@newsletter.co.uk

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

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