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Price: 75p (ir 1.05 eUro) Tuesday, June 12, 2012

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Stately home set for televised makeover PAGE 3

Saddle up and give it some pedal power
Four-year-old olivia doyle and her father chris gear up for Travelwise nis Two wheels: Two weeks of cycling activity, which is set to run from June 16 to 24. Key events on the calendar include Bike to School day on June 20 and Bike to work day on June 22 both of which are aimed at getting as many people as possible to enjoy the health, financial and environmental benefits of cycling. To find out about events in your area, log onto www.nidirect.gov.uk/ travelwiseni or facebook. com/Travelwiseni

England draw with France at Euro 2012 SPORT

inSide
News Letter, Tuesday, June 12, 2012 29

Tuesday | June 12 | 2012

ALL THE POST RACE REACTION FROM THE ISLE OF MAN TT

Business
Golden partnership for two local companies
PAGE 27
r.sherriff@newsletter.co.uk

TWO SUPER PULL-OUTS

News Letter, Tuesday, June 12, 2012 23

Vote on Balmoral Show Maze move

BY andrew cromie
newsdesk@newsletter.co.uk

Corporate outings can be serious fun

PAGES 28 & 37

Weigh up the costs vacation or staycation

PAGE 41

BY RIChARD ShERRIff Business Corresponden t

Provinces firms are still adrift on R&D

area. She highlighted the cess achieved to date levels of sucand recognised the criticism of some levels of bureaucracy. MLAs over the Building our innovation and research capacity as a region is a longterm project, she said. We have made good progress to date.

House prices take another knock

HOUSE prices continue as confidence in the to fall market remains weakened a survey reveals today. The respected Housing Survey from the Royal Market Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Ulster Bank published this morning, its lowest reading sincerecorded November 2010, and the second reading since May 2009. lowest In line with a range of negative economic news globally for the month of May, all of veys main indicators the surrated in the last month. deterioThe price balance for est survey was -54 as the latcent of respondents three per es rose, 41 per cent said pricstayed the same and said they 57 said that prices fell. per cent This was down from -39 in April. RICS Northern Ireland housing spokesman Tom McClelland said that, in line with economic conditions,the wider larly in the Eurozone particuin relation to Greece and Spain, May was a difficult month for the housing market.

BUSINESS must devote more time and resources to research velopment and government and demust do more to help achieve claimed yesterday. that goal it was The call comes after an inquiry into levels of R&D in among the lowest in the Province Europe - found small firms in particular lacked capacity and capability lack of awareness of along with a funding opportunities. It said small firms, which make up the vast majority of Northern Ireland businesses also faced difficulties in dealing with the complexities of the funding process and in ising the results of any commercialresearch. The report into developing the economy through Innovation, Research and Development (R&D) was presented to the Assembly by the committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Advised by prominent Dr Norman Apsley, left, figures chief executive of the Northern from business and Alban Maginness MLA, academia it Ireland Science Park, centre, chairman of the out a series of key recommendatisets Enterprise, Assembly Committee for Trade and Investment and ons beginning with the Dr Paul Beaney, technical need for a clear Cherry Drainage Pipes, manager at vision for innovation, research and report into developing pictured yesterday at the launch of the committees development including the economy through Innovation, new struc- Development Research and tures to integrate, coordinate and inform all R&D activity at the fact that just 10 firms Northern Ireland from all levels in ince currently account in the provWhat were saying and large businesses universities to SMEs and although there is help really is that, of all R&D spend, for 57 per cent micro-businesses. ETI committee there is a lot going on, out there and chairman Alban Maginness It also calls for the promotion we dont have said the the proper of a situation was poor culture in all sectors levels of investment but recoverable really and and with real and meaningful the system is unstructured. els recognising innovation at all levaction. and You should really We are still behind. as key drivers for economic R&D have a high Were growth level steering group half the level of investment at about and says action is needed of government, in R&D business now to enin the UK and thats able local firms to capitalise and academia bad, he said. on fundpolicy and to oversee to advise on We have to up our ing opportunities such the coordinagame as those to of encouraging businesses in terms tion of all R&D activity. come from the new Framework Prointo R&D and the important Thats a very important gramme, Horizon thing is this; if ward 2020 which will we want to become make 80 million and its not there at step forinnovative if we ment. available across the mowant to create innovation, Europe specifically for innovation to we have Enterprise Minister and R&D. have adequate levels Arlene Foster of R&D be- detailed cause thats the Quoting existing figures her such as opportunities lifeblood of creating encourage departments efforts to R&D and within the economy. ries of initiatives set outlined a seto focus on the

But she said she looked forward to working with the committee to encourage progress. The Committee began its inquiry in October 2011 in members realisation response to that Northern Ireland has one of the lowest R&D spends across all measures compared to other regions in Government support the UK. expenditure is the second lowest of all UK regions and higher education R&D spend is the lowest of all UK regions by a substantial margin. The committee was Norman Apsley, chiefadvised by Dr the Northern Ireland executive of and Dr Paul Beany, Science Park technical manager at Cherry Drainage Pipes. Dr Beany, whose grown in 10 years frombusiness has However, it was not all news, with many surveyorsbad 800,000 to 9 million a turnover of as a result of reporting stable prices R&D and diversification, and said there was no doubt that a nificant minority seeing a signew approach to transthe subject was essential. actions rising and expecting them to rise in the three I think its about months vision and showing having a clear ahead. companies which haveexamples of Data for transaction volumes gone before and improved as a result, and for transaction expectations also deteriorated, but Continuing to do what he said. remained youre doing at the minute will in positive territory (+8 and +27 ful in the long term not be successrespectively). no matter what industry youre in. With regard to price expectations, one third of respondents There is change happening more rapidly than ever before said prices will fall in and Northern Irish companies months ahead and the three need to two thirds the cutting edge of technologybe on say they will remain the to remain competitive. The price balance of same. the Northern Ireland HousingRICS Although it might look okay Marthere will be a step-change now, ket Survey has now been in somewhere down the line negative territory every and month choice to make a future you have a since August 2007 a negative for yourself or become a victim. price balance indicating erage prices are falling. that av-

ROYAL Ulster Agricultural Society members have been urged to turn out in force tonight for a special meeting which will have a huge bearing on the future of the society and its flagship event the Balmoral Show.

The meeting has been convened to allow its 3,000 members to have their say and vote on the proposed move from the RUASs current base at the Kings Hall to a new 65-acre site at the Maze. RUAS president John Bamber has said that he has faith in the membership to put the long term interests of the society first. The long history of the Roy-

al Ulster Agricultural Society is punctuated with periods of deep reflection, opportunity and change, he said. Each time our membership rose to the occasion and seized the moment. Had they not done so we would never have had a showground nor a Balmoral Show, nor a Kings Hall. We now face our own deciding moment,

and the vote will determine our future just as happened in 1894 when members voted to leave Belfast city centre and move to Balmoral. Years of work and deliberation have gone into the Legacy Project and it is now time for this era of members to have their say, he added. Turn to page 8

A luxury break at the Clayton Hotel, Galway

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