Geoff McG
@northstarbriefing.substack.com
Marketeer, PR, ex-journalist. Living in Belfast. Interested in policy, media, comms (& ancient history).
Substack: https://northstarbriefing.substack.com/
Substack: https://northstarbriefing.substack.com/
Pinned
Geoff McG
@northstarbriefing.substack.com
· Mar 30
NorthStar Briefing | Geoff McGimpsey | Substack
Charting a course through tech, policy, and economic development focusing on Northern Ireland and further afield. Exploring ideas, connecting the dots. Click to read NorthStar Briefing, by Geoff McGim...
northstarbriefing.substack.com
I write about how tech, policy and communications shape Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK.
If you’re curious about some of the ideas behind the headlines, read and subscribe to NorthStar Briefing:
🔗 northstarbriefing.substack.com
If you’re curious about some of the ideas behind the headlines, read and subscribe to NorthStar Briefing:
🔗 northstarbriefing.substack.com
NI’s AI investment scene is flatlining while drones are dropping €5m into prisons.
This week’s newsletter digs into:
📉 NI's AI investment crash
🌍 Climate tech + Digital Twins
💼 £1bn gov CRM contracts
⛳ Rory McIlroy’s pivot to sports tech.
#AI #NorthernIreland #TechPolicy #Drones #ClimateTech
This week’s newsletter digs into:
📉 NI's AI investment crash
🌍 Climate tech + Digital Twins
💼 £1bn gov CRM contracts
⛳ Rory McIlroy’s pivot to sports tech.
#AI #NorthernIreland #TechPolicy #Drones #ClimateTech
May 4, 2025 at 9:40 AM
NI’s AI investment scene is flatlining while drones are dropping €5m into prisons.
This week’s newsletter digs into:
📉 NI's AI investment crash
🌍 Climate tech + Digital Twins
💼 £1bn gov CRM contracts
⛳ Rory McIlroy’s pivot to sports tech.
#AI #NorthernIreland #TechPolicy #Drones #ClimateTech
This week’s newsletter digs into:
📉 NI's AI investment crash
🌍 Climate tech + Digital Twins
💼 £1bn gov CRM contracts
⛳ Rory McIlroy’s pivot to sports tech.
#AI #NorthernIreland #TechPolicy #Drones #ClimateTech
Here's my Substack newsletter business and AI in NI. This week it's all about deals, deficits and bots on the beat... open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
Newsletter 9: Deals, Deficits and Bots on the Beat...
Weekly roundup of NI’s major business and AI moves: Shorts Bros / Spirit losses and pension deficit, Fujitsu’s £125m contract, Intel job cuts, and PSNI’s plans for AI in policing.
open.substack.com
April 25, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Here's my Substack newsletter business and AI in NI. This week it's all about deals, deficits and bots on the beat... open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
Is the island of Ireland facing a water crisis? open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
@europarl.europa.eu report says thirsty data centres, ag sector needs & ageing infrastructure conspiring to create water scarcity here. 💧 #AI #ClimateCrisis #EU @northernireland.gov.uk @executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
@europarl.europa.eu report says thirsty data centres, ag sector needs & ageing infrastructure conspiring to create water scarcity here. 💧 #AI #ClimateCrisis #EU @northernireland.gov.uk @executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
Is the island of Ireland facing a water crisis?
A look into the EU's latest water foresight report, revealing how AI-driven data centres, climate change, and ageing infrastructure are putting Ireland and Northern Ireland at growing risk of water sc...
open.substack.com
April 14, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Is the island of Ireland facing a water crisis? open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
@europarl.europa.eu report says thirsty data centres, ag sector needs & ageing infrastructure conspiring to create water scarcity here. 💧 #AI #ClimateCrisis #EU @northernireland.gov.uk @executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
@europarl.europa.eu report says thirsty data centres, ag sector needs & ageing infrastructure conspiring to create water scarcity here. 💧 #AI #ClimateCrisis #EU @northernireland.gov.uk @executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
The NI Affairs Committee published its report this week. Aside from the damning stuff about the quality of public services and short termist way in which they're funded, I took a look at evidence gathering sessions and pulled together a short, light hearted sketch. open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
Short sketch on NI Affairs Committee evidence gathering sessions...
From silver bullets to golden tickets, MPs and witnesses get caught in the crossfire of colourful metaphors and hard truths at the NI Affairs Committee.
open.substack.com
April 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The NI Affairs Committee published its report this week. Aside from the damning stuff about the quality of public services and short termist way in which they're funded, I took a look at evidence gathering sessions and pulled together a short, light hearted sketch. open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
Announcing their intention to close quangos,
the government & Pat McFadden MP
say they're 'fundamentally re-wiring the state'.
Find that phrasing somewhat unsettling. More than efficiency; looks more like centralising control when you get into the press release.
gov.uk/government/n...
the government & Pat McFadden MP
say they're 'fundamentally re-wiring the state'.
Find that phrasing somewhat unsettling. More than efficiency; looks more like centralising control when you get into the press release.
gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
April 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Announcing their intention to close quangos,
the government & Pat McFadden MP
say they're 'fundamentally re-wiring the state'.
Find that phrasing somewhat unsettling. More than efficiency; looks more like centralising control when you get into the press release.
gov.uk/government/n...
the government & Pat McFadden MP
say they're 'fundamentally re-wiring the state'.
Find that phrasing somewhat unsettling. More than efficiency; looks more like centralising control when you get into the press release.
gov.uk/government/n...
Crypto payments. Burner phones. The honeypot ambush. A billion-dollar tech war turns into a real-life spy thriller.
The Rippling v. Deel case has everything. (Loving how it helped me discover my inner Le Carré.) northstarbriefing.substack.com/p/the-deel-t...
The Rippling v. Deel case has everything. (Loving how it helped me discover my inner Le Carré.) northstarbriefing.substack.com/p/the-deel-t...
The Deel That Went Sour, or The Spy That Came In From Temple Bar
An inside look at the explosive Rippling v. Deel alleged espionage case — how encrypted chats, crypto payments, and shattered phones exposed a self-confessed corporate mole in the heart of Dublin. A t...
northstarbriefing.substack.com
April 3, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Crypto payments. Burner phones. The honeypot ambush. A billion-dollar tech war turns into a real-life spy thriller.
The Rippling v. Deel case has everything. (Loving how it helped me discover my inner Le Carré.) northstarbriefing.substack.com/p/the-deel-t...
The Rippling v. Deel case has everything. (Loving how it helped me discover my inner Le Carré.) northstarbriefing.substack.com/p/the-deel-t...
Education Authority of Northern Ireland (EANI) contract extensions with Capita have caught my eye. No doubt within regulations, but is this best value? open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
April 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Education Authority of Northern Ireland (EANI) contract extensions with Capita have caught my eye. No doubt within regulations, but is this best value? open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
Government confirms numbers of people impacted by welfare announcements vm.tiktok.com/ZNd89JXcJ/
TikTok - Make Your Day
vm.tiktok.com
March 31, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Government confirms numbers of people impacted by welfare announcements vm.tiktok.com/ZNd89JXcJ/
📚 Belfast is a UNESCO Learning City - & the Belfast Learning Festival offers everyone a chance to dive in.
So many events over 5 days, all free. It's a well-worn phrase but nothing is more true... there’s something for everyone!
🌐 Explore the programme www.belfastcity.gov.uk/BelfastLearn...
So many events over 5 days, all free. It's a well-worn phrase but nothing is more true... there’s something for everyone!
🌐 Explore the programme www.belfastcity.gov.uk/BelfastLearn...
Belfast Learning Festival | Events in Belfast
Find all the events happening around for Belfast Festival of Learning.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk
March 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
📚 Belfast is a UNESCO Learning City - & the Belfast Learning Festival offers everyone a chance to dive in.
So many events over 5 days, all free. It's a well-worn phrase but nothing is more true... there’s something for everyone!
🌐 Explore the programme www.belfastcity.gov.uk/BelfastLearn...
So many events over 5 days, all free. It's a well-worn phrase but nothing is more true... there’s something for everyone!
🌐 Explore the programme www.belfastcity.gov.uk/BelfastLearn...
I write about how tech, policy and communications shape Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK.
If you’re curious about some of the ideas behind the headlines, read and subscribe to NorthStar Briefing:
🔗 northstarbriefing.substack.com
If you’re curious about some of the ideas behind the headlines, read and subscribe to NorthStar Briefing:
🔗 northstarbriefing.substack.com
NorthStar Briefing | Geoff McGimpsey | Substack
Charting a course through tech, policy, and economic development focusing on Northern Ireland and further afield. Exploring ideas, connecting the dots. Click to read NorthStar Briefing, by Geoff McGim...
northstarbriefing.substack.com
March 30, 2025 at 8:01 AM
I write about how tech, policy and communications shape Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK.
If you’re curious about some of the ideas behind the headlines, read and subscribe to NorthStar Briefing:
🔗 northstarbriefing.substack.com
If you’re curious about some of the ideas behind the headlines, read and subscribe to NorthStar Briefing:
🔗 northstarbriefing.substack.com
Reposted by Geoff McG
Ulster University's postgraduate journalism course is where I learned to be a reporter. They've now created a bursary to encourage those who don't have rich parents, are from minorities, mature students & others. For more details contact Dr Colm Murphy: [email protected].
March 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Ulster University's postgraduate journalism course is where I learned to be a reporter. They've now created a bursary to encourage those who don't have rich parents, are from minorities, mature students & others. For more details contact Dr Colm Murphy: [email protected].
For this week's newsletter, I explore how Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement signals AI investment for government efficiency, while Northern Ireland faces unique regulatory challenges and public skepticism about technological transformation...
open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
March 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
For this week's newsletter, I explore how Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement signals AI investment for government efficiency, while Northern Ireland faces unique regulatory challenges and public skepticism about technological transformation...
open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
The new Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland will be Georgina O’Leary, director of innovation, research and development at Allstate Northern Ireland www.fintechfutures.com/fintech/uk-g...
UK government releases two new fintech envoys into the wild
Brand new faces in Wales and Northern Ireland.
www.fintechfutures.com
March 27, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The new Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland will be Georgina O’Leary, director of innovation, research and development at Allstate Northern Ireland www.fintechfutures.com/fintech/uk-g...
Not all economic news this week should be disheartening. @nisra.gov.uk 's latest NI economic output is now 10% above the pre-pandemic level seen in Quarter 4 2019 www.economy-ni.gov.uk/news/norther...
Northern Ireland Composite Economic Index Quarter 4 2024
The Northern Ireland Composite Economic Index (NICEI) Quarter 4 2024 was published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA).
www.economy-ni.gov.uk
March 27, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Not all economic news this week should be disheartening. @nisra.gov.uk 's latest NI economic output is now 10% above the pre-pandemic level seen in Quarter 4 2019 www.economy-ni.gov.uk/news/norther...
It's beginning to seem that the real story on dual market access is that two sets of separate, and often conflicting, regulations have frictionless access to Northern Ireland. Which is disastrous. Someone needs to step up & counter this stuff. substack.com/profile/3259...
Geoff McGimpsey on Substack
On October 14, NI Economy Minister Conor Murphy said: "Dual market access key to unlocking growth opportunities in Germany."
He added: "Our ability to trade seamlessly between both the EU and Britain...
substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
It's beginning to seem that the real story on dual market access is that two sets of separate, and often conflicting, regulations have frictionless access to Northern Ireland. Which is disastrous. Someone needs to step up & counter this stuff. substack.com/profile/3259...
The newspaper frontpages that may send Rachel Reeves skating across thin ice. substack.com/@geoffmcgimp...
Geoff McGimpsey on Substack
Radio 4 did the newspaper review this morning following the Spring Statement. It’s wall to wall rejection, antipathy and dismissal. Reeves has lost everyone. Listen in from 9minutes to her the segment...
substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
The newspaper frontpages that may send Rachel Reeves skating across thin ice. substack.com/@geoffmcgimp...
A quickfire reaction to Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement focusing on the toplines for tech open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
A tech read into Reeves's Spring Statement
Frontier AI is one of the standout lines, but as civil service redundancies accelerate so too will AI adoption
open.substack.com
March 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A quickfire reaction to Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement focusing on the toplines for tech open.substack.com/pub/northsta...
Interesting survey from the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Alan Turing Institute on public attitudes to AI.
Shows the government and public are travelling in two completely different directions: the public towards greater regulations, and the government less so. substack.com/profile/3259...
Shows the government and public are travelling in two completely different directions: the public towards greater regulations, and the government less so. substack.com/profile/3259...
Geoff McGimpsey on Substack
Really interesting survey from the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Alan Turing Institute on public attitudes to AI.
The survey shows that the government and public are travelling in two completely di...
substack.com
March 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Interesting survey from the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Alan Turing Institute on public attitudes to AI.
Shows the government and public are travelling in two completely different directions: the public towards greater regulations, and the government less so. substack.com/profile/3259...
Shows the government and public are travelling in two completely different directions: the public towards greater regulations, and the government less so. substack.com/profile/3259...
Planned €2bn sale of Energia reignited following data centre planning approval. In Northern Ireland, its Power NI unit has 556,300 customer sites. www.independent.ie/business/pla...
Planned €2bn sale of Energia reignited following data centre planning approval
The planned €2bn sale of Energia – one of Ireland’s biggest power firms – is back on track after the company secured planning permission in recent days for a new data centre at its Huntstown site in n...
www.independent.ie
March 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Planned €2bn sale of Energia reignited following data centre planning approval. In Northern Ireland, its Power NI unit has 556,300 customer sites. www.independent.ie/business/pla...
Looking past the scintillating headline, Jodie Carson in the @irishnews.com discusses economic modelling www.irishnews.com/news/busines... Highlights how critical Exec spending will be to attract / 'crowd in' private sector investment to address productivity problems and infrastructure investment
March 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Looking past the scintillating headline, Jodie Carson in the @irishnews.com discusses economic modelling www.irishnews.com/news/busines... Highlights how critical Exec spending will be to attract / 'crowd in' private sector investment to address productivity problems and infrastructure investment
Reposted by Geoff McG
✍️Journalism job: The Belfast Telegraph is hiring a full-time court reporter.
Full details here:
Full details here:
Court Reporter - Belfast Telegraph
Job Title: Court ReporterLocation: Belfast (hybrid working)Reporting To: Head of Content Role PurposeBelfast Telegraph and Sunday Life are recruiting a reporter to provide accurate and engaging cou...
www.careers.mediahuis.ie
March 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
✍️Journalism job: The Belfast Telegraph is hiring a full-time court reporter.
Full details here:
Full details here:
European Commission proposes EU AI Act to list of laws applying in NI, via @irishlegal.com
Law firm William Fry said: “The move may raise political concerns, as it further embeds NI into the EU’s legal order in a sensitive and fast-moving area of technological regulation." pocket.co/share/8fc7c9...
Law firm William Fry said: “The move may raise political concerns, as it further embeds NI into the EU’s legal order in a sensitive and fast-moving area of technological regulation." pocket.co/share/8fc7c9...
AI businesses in Northern Ireland facing tougher regulation than rest of UK
The European Commission yesterday formally proposed adding the EU AI Act to the list of legislation which continues to apply in Northern Ireland post-Brexit.
pocket.co
March 25, 2025 at 4:29 PM
European Commission proposes EU AI Act to list of laws applying in NI, via @irishlegal.com
Law firm William Fry said: “The move may raise political concerns, as it further embeds NI into the EU’s legal order in a sensitive and fast-moving area of technological regulation." pocket.co/share/8fc7c9...
Law firm William Fry said: “The move may raise political concerns, as it further embeds NI into the EU’s legal order in a sensitive and fast-moving area of technological regulation." pocket.co/share/8fc7c9...
Gary McDonald in the @irishnews.com has another very good business story, this time on Tennent’s NI which understated its sales by £7m after accounting errors. The problem traces back to a botched IT upgrade that cost C&C two CEOs & created a drag on its shareprice www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Tennent’s NI sales figures understated by £7m after accounting errors
Mistakes blamed on botched computer system which led to resignation of C&C chief
www.irishnews.com
March 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Gary McDonald in the @irishnews.com has another very good business story, this time on Tennent’s NI which understated its sales by £7m after accounting errors. The problem traces back to a botched IT upgrade that cost C&C two CEOs & created a drag on its shareprice www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Defence spending boost for Northern Ireland. This time its submarines - BAE Systems estimates that it will spend in the region of £7.5 billion with 1,500 suppliers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during the Dreadnought programme. seapowermagazine.org/keel-laid-on...
Keel laid on UK’s new Dreadnought submarine
Keel laid on UK’s new Dreadnought submarine Headlines
seapowermagazine.org
March 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Defence spending boost for Northern Ireland. This time its submarines - BAE Systems estimates that it will spend in the region of £7.5 billion with 1,500 suppliers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during the Dreadnought programme. seapowermagazine.org/keel-laid-on...
Healthy investment raise for NI start-up using artificial intelligence to transform the M&A process. Liquid raises €1.3 million in a new pre-seed raise. Led by Ascension, Clarendon, Techstart, and angels from investment banks including Goldman Sachs & Rothchild www.businesspost.ie/tech-news/no...
Northern Irish AI start-up Liquid raises $1.5 million
The firm’s solution is focused on eliminating inefficiencies and reducing legal bottlenecks in M&A deals
www.businesspost.ie
March 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Healthy investment raise for NI start-up using artificial intelligence to transform the M&A process. Liquid raises €1.3 million in a new pre-seed raise. Led by Ascension, Clarendon, Techstart, and angels from investment banks including Goldman Sachs & Rothchild www.businesspost.ie/tech-news/no...