Latest news with #Coalition
Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Election promises under scrutiny- The Government's six-month report card
Six months into this new Government coalition, and all seems to be oddly quiet in the world of Irish politics. Yes, we've had the furore over the Regional Independent Group's support for the Coalition, Verona Murphy's survival of no-confidence and the ruckus that followed Michael Lowry's memorable two-finger salute. But since the dust settled on all the ruaille buaille of those turbulent early weeks in January, business has been unusually quiet in Dáil Éireann. So, what has the Government actually been doing - and what has it achieved so far? With grand pre-election promises around childcare, tax cuts and housing, is the Coalition living up to its commitments? Or is it simply too early to call our elected officials to account? In today's Indo Daily, Mary Regan is joined by Ireland Editor Fionnán Sheahan and Irish Independent Political Correspondent Gabija Gataveckaite to take a political temperature check of Leinster House and to give the Government its six-month report card.
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Government plans for €35,000 fees cap to halt High Court delays to building projects
The Government wants to cap legal fees that can be claimed from the State in environmental planning cases, in a bid to discourage High Court actions against infrastructure and housing projects. Ministers have been taking advice on the measures from Attorney General Rossa Fanning this week. This is being done in the hope of stemming the tide of legal actions that have held up schemes relating to wastewater, roads and housing. The move reflects growing anxiety in the Coalition about the need to boost the State's basic infrastructure, as concerns grow about housing delivery being hindered by constraints in electricity and water networks. One option under discussion is to impose a limit of about €35,000 on legal costs that litigants can claim from the State if they succeed in a judicial review challenge against a planning decision. READ MORE Such moves would apply to High Court cases taken under the Aarhus Convention, an international agreement that governs access to justice in environmental matters. Minister for the Environment Darragh O'Brien is required, under new planning legislation, to 'prescribe monetary amounts' for costs in Aarhus proceedings, after consulting with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers. On this question, the law requires ministers to take into account 'the need to ensure that court and judicial resources are utilised for the common good and in the interests of justice'. They must also consider 'the cost to the Exchequer'. Such measures are included in the Planning and Development Act of 2024, an extensive body of law to overhaul and speed up the planning process. The act is one of the biggest pieces of legislation in the State's history. Minister for Housing James Browne is commencing the law in phases, with measures taking force this week to establish An Coimisiún Pleanála in succession to An Bord Pleanála. The new commission is chaired by Paul Reid , former chief executive of the Health Service Executive. Despite the worsening housing crisis, thousands of new homes in certain parts of the Dublin region have been delayed because they cannot access electricity . Uisce Éireann has separately warned it will have no capacity for new housing connections within three years if a new north Dublin wastewater plant does not proceed. Permission for the plant was struck down by the High Court five years ago. A cap in the region of €35,000 has yet to be settled and people involved in the talks stressed the debate was still open. 'There's a scheme being developed under the legislation but it hasn't been finalised,' said one figure with knowledge of the talks. Asked for comment on the prospect of a €35,000 cap, Mr O'Brien's spokeswoman said: 'Proposals are currently being developed and will be assessed. No decision has been made at this stage.' People familiar with the proposal believe it is likely to provoke resistance from environmental campaigners. Any move to impose a cap would drastically reduce lawyers' earning potential in judicial review cases taken on environmental grounds. Legal sources say successful litigants often rack up legal fees of hundreds of thousands of euro in cases taken on a 'no foal no fee' basis by lawyers, where litigants incur no fees if they lose.
West Australian
9 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
Former finance minister Simon Birmingham to lead Australian Banking Association
Former Coalition senator Simon Birmingham has been named as the new chief of the Australian Banking Association. The ABA is the peak industry body representing the major four banks and a number of smaller lenders. Mr Birmingham succeeds Anna Bligh, who announced her retirement in February after more than eight years in the top job. Mr Birmingham, who was one of the Liberal's most senior moderates, announced his retirement from politics late last year after almost two decades in parliament. He was finance minister for the second half of Scott Morrison's prime ministership as the pandemic wrecked global economies and inflation began its steady climb skywards. He has also held trade, finance and education portfolios under two prime ministers. Mr Birmingham will leave his role at ANZ as head of Asia-Pacific engagement, which he assumed in February. He joins the ABA on August 18, with Ms Bligh finishing up four days later. 'He is a recognised leader who has had deep involvement in significant and long-lasting policy decisions and actions throughout his career that have helped to shape our country,' ABA chair and National Australia Bank chief Andrew Irvine said. Mr Birmingham thanked the ABA board for their vote of confidence in his ability to lead the industry.
Economic Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
All routes lead to Mideast and Iran-Israel war won't shut down the 'Silicon Road'
iStock Asian companies are increasingly drawn to the Middle East, enticed by massive investments in diverse sectors like electric vehicles and AI The big theme in Asian supply chains over the past decade has been relocation. Entire industries have sought to pare their reliance on China by shifting manufacturing to other low-cost destinations like Vietnam and India. Japanese carmakers and Indian pharmaceutical firms have chosen Mexico to be closer to American demand. More recently, however, a new route is emerging — from Asia to the Middle that the US is on the verge of joining Israel's attack on Iran may unsettle business leaders' current plans and delay activity along the corridor. However, as long as hostilities don't spiral into a catastrophic event, such as the closing of the all-important Strait of Hormuz to shipping, they are unlikely to derail the economic case for a reprisal of the historic Silk Road. Asian firms are drawn to the Middle East because of the strong appetite in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to leverage their oil resources — and invest trillions of dollars in everything from electric cars to artificial intelligence. The emerging Silicon Road, as I like to think of it, is drawing top executives from Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei and Mumbai to opportunities in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha. Bankers from London, Singapore and Tokyo aren't too far behind. The best evidence for the new passage comes from the 1,500-plus firms that Coalition Greenwich talks to annually across its Asia Large Corporate Banking and Trade Finance studies. In the latter, diversification, which has been high on the executives' priority list since President Donald Trump's first term, gained momentum last year, with 34% of the 700-plus respondents saying that they were tapping new locations, versus 29% in 2023. India and Vietnam were predictably high on the list of destinations. Japan also received some mentions because of the export advantage accorded by a cheap yen. But the presentation slide that piqued the most interest among Coalition's banking clients is one that showed Asia's burgeoning corporate-banking ties with the Persian Gulf. The South Korean chaebols are well entrenched in the Middle East, across a gamut of old and new industries. The construction wing of Samsung Group was the primary contractor for Burj Khalifa, the landmark Dubai skyscraper. The Hyundai Motor Group's engineering affiliate has built nuclear-power reactors for the UAE. The conglomerate is now setting up a car-assembly plant in Saudi Arabia. The Korean internet leader Naver Corp. has built large-scale virtual versions of Mecca, Medina and Jeddah for better city planning. The Koreans' success has become a blueprint for others. Compared with 2020, 9% more of Taiwanese and Indian companies, and 5%-6% more of Chinese and Hong Kong firms, point out the Middle East as a market where they have outbound banking activities. This isn't a flash in the pan. 'Not only are more companies citing the corridor, they are using more banks to do business in it,' says Ruchirangad Agarwal, the head of Coalition Greenwich's corporate banking practice for Asia and the Middle East. In terms of usage, European banks' share of this corporate banking market is a stable 29%. That isn't surprising, given the long history of British institutions like HSBC Holdings Plc and Standard Chartered Plc in both Asia and the Middle East. Even BNP Paribas SA — whose predecessor set up operations in China and India in 1860 — came to the Gulf region in the early 1970s in pursuit of more interesting bit in the survey is a growing acknowledgement of Chinese and Japanese lenders. About 30% of banking and capital market assets in the Dubai International Financial Center hub are controlled by the top five Chinese banks. The Asia-Middle East corridor has emerged in response to the ambitious Saudi effort to curb the kingdom's reliance on oil. The $2 trillion that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may end up spending toward this goal will spur demand for everything from physical infrastructure to artificial intelligence software and data centers. Dubai, meanwhile, is getting readying for a flying taxi picks and shovels for the gold rush will come from Asian firms. They will increasingly tap their home-country banks, or a regional lender like Singapore's DBS Group Holdings Ltd., for working capital. The European trade-finance specialists may have to work hard to hold on to their sway.
The Advertiser
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Game changer': $35m funding for the duplication of Thornton Bridge
The duplication of Thornton Bridge, one of the Hunter's worst bottlenecks, has moved a step closer with an allocation of $35 million to the project. The state government is also moving ahead with work to build a westbound overpass at Maitland Station following the federal government's recent $100 million funding commitment. The Thornton Bridge duplication funding, to be announced in the state budget, builds on the existing $15 million investment to kickstart planning work. An estimated 7000 new residents are expected to move into the area over the next 20 years. When delivered, the bridge duplication will ease congestion and expand access to Thornton Road, an essential flood-free route for local residents during natural disasters. Transport for NSW is carrying out early works, including surveying the road surface of Thornton Road and Railway Avenue between Huntingdale Drive and Glenroy Street. The work will help with designs for the project. The former Coalition government removed the cap on development north of Thornton Bridge, however it failed to invest any funds in upgrading the bridge. "This is a fast-growing community that needs new and improved road links to bust congestion and improve safety," Minister for Roads and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said. "Peak hour congestion around Thornton Bridge is so bad it is like a massive car park. This will be a game changer for the community, connecting people to home, work and essential services. The state government has also added the federal government's recent $100 million commitment to deliver a westbound overpass at Maitland Station into its forward program of road projects. Transport for NSW recently completed early investigation work, so construction can begin quickly when design scoping is complete and construction contracts are signed. The two projects add to a list improvements to major road projects in the Hunter Region in recent years including the Singleton bypass, the Muswellbrook bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, upgrades to the New England Highway and Golden Highway, the extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace and the widening of Hexham Straight. NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the Hunter was one of the state's most desirable places to live, work and play and required smart, future-ready infrastructure to cater for the demand. "We're focused on the essentials like safer roads, stronger bridges and upgraded intersections that locals use every single day - cutting congestion, boosting safety and making life easier for everyone," she said. "We're already delivering major projects like the Singleton Bypass, the Muswellbrook Bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace - and this is just another step forward in getting it done for our communities." Federal Paterson Meryl Swanson MP said the Maitland westbound overpass project would improve safety, reduce congestion, and make travel easier for families and businesses. "It will be a game-changer for daily commuters, finishing what was left incomplete and give Maitland the infrastructure it deserves," she said. "This is about the safe travel of local residents, businesses, and tourists and maintaining vital links in our community." The duplication of Thornton Bridge, one of the Hunter's worst bottlenecks, has moved a step closer with an allocation of $35 million to the project. The state government is also moving ahead with work to build a westbound overpass at Maitland Station following the federal government's recent $100 million funding commitment. The Thornton Bridge duplication funding, to be announced in the state budget, builds on the existing $15 million investment to kickstart planning work. An estimated 7000 new residents are expected to move into the area over the next 20 years. When delivered, the bridge duplication will ease congestion and expand access to Thornton Road, an essential flood-free route for local residents during natural disasters. Transport for NSW is carrying out early works, including surveying the road surface of Thornton Road and Railway Avenue between Huntingdale Drive and Glenroy Street. The work will help with designs for the project. The former Coalition government removed the cap on development north of Thornton Bridge, however it failed to invest any funds in upgrading the bridge. "This is a fast-growing community that needs new and improved road links to bust congestion and improve safety," Minister for Roads and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said. "Peak hour congestion around Thornton Bridge is so bad it is like a massive car park. This will be a game changer for the community, connecting people to home, work and essential services. The state government has also added the federal government's recent $100 million commitment to deliver a westbound overpass at Maitland Station into its forward program of road projects. Transport for NSW recently completed early investigation work, so construction can begin quickly when design scoping is complete and construction contracts are signed. The two projects add to a list improvements to major road projects in the Hunter Region in recent years including the Singleton bypass, the Muswellbrook bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, upgrades to the New England Highway and Golden Highway, the extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace and the widening of Hexham Straight. NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the Hunter was one of the state's most desirable places to live, work and play and required smart, future-ready infrastructure to cater for the demand. "We're focused on the essentials like safer roads, stronger bridges and upgraded intersections that locals use every single day - cutting congestion, boosting safety and making life easier for everyone," she said. "We're already delivering major projects like the Singleton Bypass, the Muswellbrook Bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace - and this is just another step forward in getting it done for our communities." Federal Paterson Meryl Swanson MP said the Maitland westbound overpass project would improve safety, reduce congestion, and make travel easier for families and businesses. "It will be a game-changer for daily commuters, finishing what was left incomplete and give Maitland the infrastructure it deserves," she said. "This is about the safe travel of local residents, businesses, and tourists and maintaining vital links in our community." The duplication of Thornton Bridge, one of the Hunter's worst bottlenecks, has moved a step closer with an allocation of $35 million to the project. The state government is also moving ahead with work to build a westbound overpass at Maitland Station following the federal government's recent $100 million funding commitment. The Thornton Bridge duplication funding, to be announced in the state budget, builds on the existing $15 million investment to kickstart planning work. An estimated 7000 new residents are expected to move into the area over the next 20 years. When delivered, the bridge duplication will ease congestion and expand access to Thornton Road, an essential flood-free route for local residents during natural disasters. Transport for NSW is carrying out early works, including surveying the road surface of Thornton Road and Railway Avenue between Huntingdale Drive and Glenroy Street. The work will help with designs for the project. The former Coalition government removed the cap on development north of Thornton Bridge, however it failed to invest any funds in upgrading the bridge. "This is a fast-growing community that needs new and improved road links to bust congestion and improve safety," Minister for Roads and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said. "Peak hour congestion around Thornton Bridge is so bad it is like a massive car park. This will be a game changer for the community, connecting people to home, work and essential services. The state government has also added the federal government's recent $100 million commitment to deliver a westbound overpass at Maitland Station into its forward program of road projects. Transport for NSW recently completed early investigation work, so construction can begin quickly when design scoping is complete and construction contracts are signed. The two projects add to a list improvements to major road projects in the Hunter Region in recent years including the Singleton bypass, the Muswellbrook bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, upgrades to the New England Highway and Golden Highway, the extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace and the widening of Hexham Straight. NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the Hunter was one of the state's most desirable places to live, work and play and required smart, future-ready infrastructure to cater for the demand. "We're focused on the essentials like safer roads, stronger bridges and upgraded intersections that locals use every single day - cutting congestion, boosting safety and making life easier for everyone," she said. "We're already delivering major projects like the Singleton Bypass, the Muswellbrook Bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace - and this is just another step forward in getting it done for our communities." Federal Paterson Meryl Swanson MP said the Maitland westbound overpass project would improve safety, reduce congestion, and make travel easier for families and businesses. "It will be a game-changer for daily commuters, finishing what was left incomplete and give Maitland the infrastructure it deserves," she said. "This is about the safe travel of local residents, businesses, and tourists and maintaining vital links in our community." The duplication of Thornton Bridge, one of the Hunter's worst bottlenecks, has moved a step closer with an allocation of $35 million to the project. The state government is also moving ahead with work to build a westbound overpass at Maitland Station following the federal government's recent $100 million funding commitment. The Thornton Bridge duplication funding, to be announced in the state budget, builds on the existing $15 million investment to kickstart planning work. An estimated 7000 new residents are expected to move into the area over the next 20 years. When delivered, the bridge duplication will ease congestion and expand access to Thornton Road, an essential flood-free route for local residents during natural disasters. Transport for NSW is carrying out early works, including surveying the road surface of Thornton Road and Railway Avenue between Huntingdale Drive and Glenroy Street. The work will help with designs for the project. The former Coalition government removed the cap on development north of Thornton Bridge, however it failed to invest any funds in upgrading the bridge. "This is a fast-growing community that needs new and improved road links to bust congestion and improve safety," Minister for Roads and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison said. "Peak hour congestion around Thornton Bridge is so bad it is like a massive car park. This will be a game changer for the community, connecting people to home, work and essential services. The state government has also added the federal government's recent $100 million commitment to deliver a westbound overpass at Maitland Station into its forward program of road projects. Transport for NSW recently completed early investigation work, so construction can begin quickly when design scoping is complete and construction contracts are signed. The two projects add to a list improvements to major road projects in the Hunter Region in recent years including the Singleton bypass, the Muswellbrook bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass, upgrades to the New England Highway and Golden Highway, the extension of the M1 Pacific Motorway to Raymond Terrace and the widening of Hexham Straight. NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the Hunter was one of the state's most desirable places to live, work and play and required smart, future-ready infrastructure to cater for the demand. "We're focused on the essentials like safer roads, stronger bridges and upgraded intersections that locals use every single day - cutting congestion, boosting safety and making life easier for everyone," she said. "We're already delivering major projects like the Singleton Bypass, the Muswellbrook Bypass, the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace - and this is just another step forward in getting it done for our communities." Federal Paterson Meryl Swanson MP said the Maitland westbound overpass project would improve safety, reduce congestion, and make travel easier for families and businesses. "It will be a game-changer for daily commuters, finishing what was left incomplete and give Maitland the infrastructure it deserves," she said. "This is about the safe travel of local residents, businesses, and tourists and maintaining vital links in our community."
