Latest news with #LucindaCreighton
The Journal
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Lucinda Creighton: 'Our national conversation is all around things that are irrelevant'
WE'RE MORE INTERESTED in the 'gossipy aspect of our parliamentary politics, rather than the nuts and bolts of how we're governing our country'. That is according to Lucinda Creighton, former Minister for European Affairs, at a discussion at the MacGill Summer School in the Glenties in Co Donegal today. 'At the moment, our system is not fit for purpose. 'Our national conversation, our news cycle, is all around, frankly things that are irrelevant, like who's going to be in the Áras in November.' She said that this is down to the 'gossipy aspect' of politics. Creighton was speaking as Michael Flatley told RTÉ that he was considering a presidential bid after being 'approached by some very weighted individuals'. 'Everything is, as far as I can see, government is completely strangled by the need to cover our backside and have multiple reviews about every single decision that's ever taken,' said Creighton. This leads to 'little leadership or risk taking', she added. 'We are completely risk averse, and I think that that is not serving us well.' Creighton said this is 'directly feeding into the fact that we have an ongoing housing crisis without any clear, logical solution'. She also mentioned this was contributing to the energy crisis, 'a massive problem' with the electricity grid, which 'is not fit for purpose', and unmet 'renewable energy aspirations'. 'We're not capable of delivering the sort of infrastructure that's required.' Contributing to this is the one-year budget cycle, with Creighton saying that long-term planning is not built into our electoral system. Advertisement 'If we're to get to grips with the sort of radical change that is happening around us right now, we have to think about how we change our politics, our system of governance, to respond to that, to educate our policy makers and to enable them and equip them to be able to deal with these challenges that are coming.' 'Condescending' centre left Later in the talk entitled 'Why is Liberalism Failing?', the former Minister said that 'there is a lot of research now actually showing that politicians and political parties of the center, particularly the center left are very, very condescending'. She said that this condescension is turning people to the far right. 'Take immigration, the elephant in the room. If somebody expresses concern about immigration, they're labeled far right. 'And if you do that to your own voters repeatedly, well then you'll convince them that actually maybe they're better off with the far right.' Creighton said that this 'is an excellent example' of where some politicians, representatives, aspiring candidates, 'listen and try and understand'. 'Instead of referring to voters that you disagree with as deplorables, you actually try to understand what's motivating them. 'And usually it's a sense of insecurity. It's a sense of too much change, too rapidly, not understanding the world around them or just being displaced in the world.' Support to dismantle 'Triple Lock' Creighton also raised the Government's decision to dismantle the 'Triple Lock' for Irish military involvement in operations abroad. Cabinet approved this plan in March . 'I'm very pleased and proud of our government, actually, for taking the decision to try to dismantle the triple lock. 'It's an ineffectual tool, and it is destructive, and it's important that we take that step, and hopefully it makes its way through the Oireachtas.' As it currently stands, Irish troops in groups of more than 12 cannot be deployed abroad without approval from Cabinet, the Dáil and a resolution from the United Nations' Security Council. This three-step approval is known as the 'Triple Lock'. She said that 'it's going to be increasingly difficult in this world of authoritarianism and polarisation to get things done through' multilateral organisations such as the United Nations. 'I hate to take a break the phrase from from the time of the Iraq war, but 'a coalition of the willing' on certain topics is going to be essential.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Belfast Telegraph
22-04-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Big firms could ‘flip' to Northern Ireland amid ongoing tariff war with US
While Lucinda Creighton, former Minister of State for European Affairs, says it's not a scenario she wants to see, if the US hits the EU with larger tariffs, she believes Northern Ireland could see new opportunities, given its 'unique' position And she says that's regardless of the emerging tariff situation, given Northern Ireland's position on the world stage under the Windsor Framework. 'I do think that there is a unique position there to be leveraged,' she told Ulster Business. '[That's] regardless of what the tariff situation looks like. Under the NI Protocol and Windsor Framework, that different countries would employ different tariffs to the EU… that is something which is going to be a factor in the future of Northern Ireland. 'So many Irish businesses [which have operations] north and south, you could see some of that flipping. It could happen – I'm not advocating for it, but you could see an easier solution for companies as opposed to absorbing those tariffs.' US President Donald Trump announced a swathe of global tariffs, including an initial 20% on EU goods, and 10% for those coming from the UK. However, the majority of those are currently on hold. Ms Creighton was in Belfast to launch Vulcan Consulting's new Belfast office, which will be headed by Conor Houston. She said Northern Ireland has an opportunity to grow its talent pool, with a focus now on skills rather than tax incentives for foreign direct investment. 'We are busy and active with an office in Brussels, focused on the EU institutions,' she says. 'With the UK gone from the EU, that direct link diminished for Northern Ireland, directly. We can play a role in building relationships with Northern Ireland companies, and with other organisations.' And with uncertainty in the air, globally – with potential tariffs on the way, but yet to be introduced – Ms Creighton says it's likely that major investment decisions will be 'on pause' for most US multi-national companies. '… it puts a freeze on things,' she says. 'With turmoil comes opportunity. I was minister during financial crisis. If you look at how Ireland emerged, it was more competitive for FDI, and we made structural changes which benefited the economy and society – [we can] look at this as an opportunity.' Vulcan Consulting specialises in providing clients with strategic advice on navigating the political and regulatory landscapes in Ireland and across Europe. '[There is now] an opportunity for Europe to get its health in order,' she says. '[It's] investing in defence… there is huge opportunity for the north, as it's already [working] in security, defence and cyber-security.' Asked if the potential impact on the economy could be more sizeable than the financial crisis in 2008, Ms Creighton said it could 'potentially have a longer term impact'. 'This is much more wide ranging across entire economy and global world order with trade,' she says. 'I'm still optimistic… there's a long way to go and a painful few months. We have to hope that ultimately the US isn't going to destroy the US economy, which they are on track to do at the moment.' On her own firm's plans, Ms Creighton says it's planning to extend its footprint and reach across the sectors. '[We are] working across the sectors – life sciences, medtech, digital, tech, semi-conductors and veering into AI. 'We are very much focused on the huge potential for an all-island approach to some of that, especially around energy, as a lot of it is connected – north to south, and east to west. 'We have lots of UK clients and aspirations to grow in GB. Northern Ireland is a key focal point of that unique status under the Windsor Framework.' Speaking about the new Northern Ireland base, she says: 'We have opened our Belfast office at a time of huge uncertainty for businesses in Northern Ireland, especially with the recent announcement of US tariffs and potential retaliation by the UK and the EU. 'We have worked with many of Ireland's leading companies including Amazon, Intel, Bank of America, Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. We have experience in delivering influence and impact for these global companies at the most senior levels within the EU – and across the globe.' And Conor Houston, Vulcan Consulting's Northern Ireland director, says we are 'uniquely placed as a global gateway for trade'. 'The Vulcan team can maximise the influence of Northern Ireland's leading companies in Ireland, the EU, the US and beyond. There is huge opportunity to support companies seeking to develop an all-island presence. 'With offices in Brussels, Dublin and now Belfast, I know that our team at Vulcan can bring the global insight, influence and perspective to navigate this fast-changing world and grow their businesses internationally.'
