Price: 72p (IR 1.

05 EURO) Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The pride of Northern

Ireland

www.newsletter.co.uk

Since 1737

Seaside store rides waves of success SEE 16&17

Janets mum welcomes star back home
X Factor contestant Janet Devlin was firmly back on Ulster soil last night after catching an easyJet flight from London, following her departure from the ITV talent show on Sunday night. The teenager, who hails from Gortin, Co Tyrone, finished a hugely respectable fifth in the popular reality programme. First to welcome the 17-year-old back to the province was her mother, Patricia.

All the action in

TOTAL RUGBY

INSIDE
Business
Scholarship boost for engineering students
PAGE 24
BY richArd ShErriff Business correspondent
r.sherriff@newsletter.co.uk maker Andor SCIENTIFIC camera to buck the Technologies continued as it reeconomic trend yesterday increase in revported a 34 per cent rise in pre-tax enues and a 37 per cent profits. based business The west Belfast produces high which designs and global market, value cameras for the 166 new jobs as last week announced two-phase expart of an 18 million,the Springvale its site at pansion on business park. he was fantasCEO Conor Walsh said figures for the tically happy with the but stressed year ended September taking nothing that the business was forgranted. are immune, We cant say that we world as everywe work in the same sticking to body else does, but were far it has thus our business plan and been very good, he said. foot off the We havent taken our
News Letter, Tuesday, November 29, 2011 23

Our man in... the Philippines

PAGES 27

Young drivers dented by car insurance

PAGES 28&37

Andor pushes to bigger economic growth

Budget windfall on the way?

gas one bit. up 34 per The figures show turnover 42.7m to cent to 57.4m compared profit rose for 2010, while operating 7m. up from 37 per cent to 9.6m, growth of Highlights include in every segmore than 20 per cent 109 per cent in ment and market and includthe sale of systems, packages equiping a camera and additional ment. the Last week the firm announced range of middevelopment of a new its appeal market cameras to widen but the across international markets of the sales figures report first year 4m, while the sCMOS camera hit at the uplaunch of iXon 3 camera has cemented per end of the market market leadAndors position as the er in its field. order book for In the meantime, the 2012 is up 0.4m to 13.8m. years, during Over the last three of people to lot what has been for a we have worst economic conditions,

could be set NORTHERN Ireland windfall to share in a 10 billion George Ostoday as Chancellor announce borne is expected to spending a major infrastructure designed to package for the UK get the economy moving. busiThe claim comes from after the ness advisors PwC offered a government yesterday promising glimpse of its plans, to 40 major a green light for up across infrastructure projects estimated England, costing an 30 billion. so And although the projects in England, far named are all Dr Esmond PwC chief economist, on the Birnie said information come durdevolved regions may TechAndor ing the announcement. suggest nologies cEO Our own calculations conor Walsh that planned UK infrastructure in last is on course to come pictured spending this fifriday with about 10bn under budget Enterprise nancial year, he said. Osborne means George That Minister 10bn to could borrow an extra Arlene foster like help fund major projectscreatat the anroads and bridges, quickly a real nouncement ing work and jobs without of an 18m increase in borrowing. he said, expansion Yesterdays statement, plan plan intended suggested a more ambitious coming to continue with additional funding the growth refrom pension funds. more ported by the And, while we will learn surprising firm yesterday tomorrow, it might be not share if Northern Ireland did we try to go infrastrucThe last bit is that in any one-off national because, these things The danger is that after the emerging markets that are ture investment. said Mr Walsh ones inself-fulfilling and you seen our best results, typically, they are the Anything that stimulates job are the drive can become those types of decision sector growing the fastest, they emphasising that pushing option. start taking vestment and private real because con- not only Thats brand consumer for growth was the only our business and deferring decisions can become also the best funded. and we creation will also boost are tough and it We have kept true to proposals new business to everybody right in investing in re- ditions confidence; and, with plan and we have kept stimulatand make sure that were try and coming self-fulfilling.was hard to extrapolate also expected around on those opportunities. search and developmenta time when Although it small firms, Coother firms there ing bank lending to out with new products down their the performance from Commenting on the results to inject has of larger compathe Chancellor is hoping Chairman, said: This for most people have slowed which were divisions cheer into year rapidly grow- lin Walsh, some pre-Christmas investemts, he said. look even fur- nies, he said Andor was been another exceptional thank our growth. to the economy. That has made us ing and seeking more independent Andor and I would like announcethan we might business for The government ther ahead of the pack We are the largest teams right across the such a the international I would say we are done. and ment came as previously have their dedication in delivering for and Fri- camera maker in the market overall. We have kept investing that. It think-tank, the Organisation Denow the largest of company strong result. businesses can claim and day was another exampleto say well From a camera making market Few other Economic Cooperation the UK us that we are taking revenue and profit so would be very easy for velopment warned year and perspective, other camera companies to have grown what remains an unback from maybe just wait for another convincingly in was now at risk of slipping decision to share second thing that would be an easy climate, but and we can see that. The spaces that certain economic environment. into recession. make given the current one for us in is that we are moving into it wouldnt be the right business. we werent in before. the overall terms of the

1m cost of jail protests

PROTESTING republican prisoners in Maghaberry jail have cost the taxpayer over 1 million in damage to property and additional staff costs over the last 18 months. The figure was revealed by the justice minister in a written answer to Lord Morrow of the DUP . In his reply, David Ford said: The total cost of the damage caused by republican separated prisoners during their protest, since it began on Easter Sunday 2010, is 1,007,000.

See page 5
PICTURE: Bill Smyth

Province facing strike standstill

BY PHILIP BRADFIELD
p.bradfield@newsletter.co.uk

Turn to page 13

Golf stars vie for top title

NORTHERN Ireland golfing heroes Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy are among the 10 stars to have been nominated for this years BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. The 10 individuals shortlisted hail from the four nations of the UK and from six contrasting sports. Each of them now has a chance of being crowned the 58th BBC Sports Personality of the Year on December 22.

A CABINET minister has accused union militants of itching for a fight as plans were being finalised for a strike by up to two million workers across

Northern Ireland and Great Britain tomorrow, in a dispute over pensions. Education Secretary Michael Gove was criticised yesterday after saying union leaders wanted to wreck economic recovery and cause public misery.

Unions said many workers involved in tomorrows walkout would be taking strike action for the first time in their lives, adding that the government was becoming desperate because it was losing public support. Northern Ireland is expected

to come to a virtual standstill during tomorrows strike action over pensions. All public transport has been cancelled for the day, forcing thousands of commuters to make alternative travel arrangements. Turn to page 6

See Sport

Diamond Rings & Wedding Bands Our Speciality !

Surprisingly Affordable

Diamond Rings up to 50% OFF Retail !!

Wholesale Prices Open to the Public

3a The Fountain Centre, College Street, Belfast BT1 6ET Tel : 028 90325320 www.ellisonsjewellers.co.uk