Emma Pengelly
South Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“This week, I will travel to France to pay my respects to all those who fought and the many who fell at the Battle of the Somme as we mark its 110th anniversary. <BR /> <BR />From across Northern Ireland, generations have served their country.”
“One of the men who fought was James Sandford, my great-grandfather. He fought, he survived, he went on to fight again, and he was seriously injured in another battle. I am deeply proud of him, and I am proud of all those who stepped forward with such honour in the face of the horror of that war.”
“When I stand there this week, looking at the gravestones of so many who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom, I will also remember — we must always remember — the responsibility that we carry forward. Remembrance is not only about honouring the past; it is about shaping the future.”
“Last night, people in north Belfast witnessed horrific scenes that have absolutely sickened and appalled people across Northern Ireland. It was a shocking and barbaric act of violence that has left a victim fighting the consequences of a truly savage attack.”
“Every person has the right to walk their streets, live in their community and feel safe in their own neighbourhood. This type of brutality has no place in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />This morning, I spoke with the Chief Constable and the Justice Minister.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have also been in contact with the Prime Minister, because the PSNI has confirmed that the 30-year-old male who has been arrested is believed to be of Somalian heritage.”
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“My party and I play a role in the Executive as a safeguard by scrutinising the detail to see whether something can command consensus across the Executive and the House. Frankly, I would worry about the nonsense that would be in place were it not for those safeguards. That is the product of a system that was designed by the very party that now jumps up and down and criticises it.”
“Do I believe that the processes are a hindrance to delivery? Yes, and we need to improve those. Part of the reason why we are in these positions is to try to drive that forward. <BR /> <BR />I have said this before, I will no doubt say it say again on many occasions and it will come as no surprise to Members and to people across Northern Ireland: the First Minister and I do not agree on everything; of course, we do not. We are in a mandatory coalition with four parties from four very different ideological positions. I hear Members talk about issues being blocked. The system of government that we have in the Executive is designed to ensure that things that are significant, cross-cutting or controversial will move forward only with consensus. This is the thing: if there is no consensus, they will not be agreed.”
“Figuratively. As many people will know, I have a big angry head on at times, because I want to push forward on delivery as well. However, the Member touches on an incredibly important point. The leader of the Opposition probably has more angry exchanges with Members in the Chamber in one day than the Executive have had over the past 12 months to two years. Some seem to have an obsession with focusing on and talking up disagreement and talking down delivery. <BR /> <BR />Moving forward with new policies, new legislation and new ways of doing things to make sure that we can deliver better takes time. Every Government in the world faces that, unless you are some form of dictator or otherwise who can simply force things through with the click of your fingers. These things take time. Do I believe that the processes are much too difficult?”
“I am shocked to hear that they were "literally" shooting daggers at each other across the Chamber.”
“That is why, through the Strategic Investment Board, we are looking at the planning system and trying to ensure that the key barriers to progress are removed. That is why we are looking at the accountability mechanisms in the key targets and priorities in the Programme for Government.”
“There is an opportunity to get it right, to build the foundations that we need to tackle inefficiency in our system and to get the right people with the right skills in the places where they need to be to push forward that delivery, particularly in respect of capital infrastructure. People feel frustrated that many of the projects around them are not delivered on time or on budget, but what does that mean? It means that, in future years, we are spending, against the same projects, hundreds of millions of pounds more than the original cost because of delays and lack of delivery and because the process is a hindrance to progress. That is a challenge that we are up to meeting. That is why we are trying to drive a focus on specialist skills in the Civil Service.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Chamber is not a place for simply shouting at one another. The leader of the Opposition often comes in here with his big, angry head on and shouts at all of us about this, that and the other. He does not want to reflect, and he does not like it when the lack of delivery from SDLP Ministers is pointed out to him. Look at the portfolios that the SDLP held: on Casement, no progress; on the A5, no progress; and on the environmental issues that sat in those portfolios, no progress. When the SDLP has not held the FM or DFM position in an Executive, it has not voted in support of a single draft Budget or substantive Budget. <BR /> <BR />It is important to highlight that the draft Budget is out for consultation. We have to get it right.”
“We face the frustration that people feel about delays and the time that it takes to get delivery when we meet the head of the Civil Service, officials and the arm's-length bodies. When we look at some of the big things that are often criticised in this place for not being delivered, we see that the issue was not a lack of political agreement. Those issues were agreed; they made their way into the investment strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI), flagship projects and Executive papers and announcements of the past, and yet some of them have not been delivered five years, 10 years or 15 years later because the process often bogs down the big issues and is a hindrance to progress. We must tackle that, and we absolutely hear that from people. We must deliver for the people whom we serve; otherwise what value will they see in this place?”
“We have also driven an ambitious agenda of transformation across government, and that is critical. <BR /> <BR />I am not naive. Do I want to deliver faster for the people of Northern Ireland? Yes. Do I want to deliver more for the people of Northern Ireland? Absolutely. However, the challenge that we face is the same as that faced by Governments throughout these isles and democracies across the globe, and that is making sure that we can deliver for the people whom we serve. <BR /> <BR />Just this week, I heard something that was relevant to the frustrations that many people feel and that I can feel in this role, and it was about the challenge between process and progress.”
“Thank you. <BR /> <BR />Not only that, we have been able to step in when challenges have faced not just the Northern Ireland Executive but the entirety of Northern Ireland. After storm Éowyn, it was the First Minister, me and others who got on the phone to the Prime Minister, sat at the COBRA meeting and asked for the additional supports that were so necessary, such as the extra water and people to help to get the electricity fixed and the lights back on throughout Northern Ireland. Indeed, when we faced the terrible race disorder over the past number of summers, we took a strong, united and firm stand against it. <BR /> <BR />All those things matter, and there are so many more. We moved immediately to address the public-sector pay issues that had lingered for years and to resolve those issues, difficult as that may have been.”
“We hosted an extremely successful golf Open Championship and Irish Open last year, building on the successes of the Northern Ireland Executive's past commitments and pushing forward to achieve them for the future.”
“We opened Studio Ulster after working incredibly hard. Frankly, if there had not been a Northern Ireland Executive to push and ensure that the pause on the much-needed region and city deals was lifted, we would not have that game changer for our creative industries. <BR /> <BR />There were numerous meetings to push the UK Government to make sure that Post Office postmasters across Northern Ireland were included in the UK-wide legislation to remedy that injustice, and we succeeded.”
“The cultural commissioners have been appointed. We moved quickly to deal with the long-standing, long-running irritation of the issue of rates on condemned buildings. The housing supply strategy is out. We have delivered a delivery unit and the office of AI and digital. For the first time in Northern Ireland, we appointed a Chief Scientific and Technology Adviser. We are driving forward a data strategy and the AI strategy to make Northern Ireland fit for purpose for the future.”
“The strategy is out; the delivery plan is out; and money is on the ground making a difference on the key issues that matter to people. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Executive stepped in and delivered a £100 winter fuel payment, when Scotland and other jurisdictions could not deliver that because the Labour Party in London decided to cut it at the last moment. The school uniform legislation passed by the DUP Education Minister protects working families and tries to drive down the costs that hit them hard. <BR /> <BR />The Women's World Cup was agreed on by the Executive, and we will work to make that happen. The year-round, late-night transport for Belfast has finally been delivered.”
“He said at the outset two years ago that he hoped to lead a constructive Opposition, but we do not see much of that constructiveness, because of course he failed to recognise any — any — of the achievements of the Executive. That includes agreeing a Programme for Government, agreeing a Budget last year and this year and delivering £55 million of childcare support for hard-working families. That is real money in real people's pockets. We delivered over 164,000 more outpatient, diagnostic and inpatient procedures by the end of October 2025. When that reports again, that number will have increased significantly. We have committed more than £5 million to community-led and other initiatives to tackle violence against women and girls.”
“The leader of the Opposition said that he would be accused of being negative: he is accused of being negative because he is being negative.”
“Significant progress has been made towards achieving the Programme for Government priorities, and, as we head towards the one-year anniversary, we will publish the update report on that. I know that people across Northern Ireland can be frustrated by what they see as a lack of delivery on key issues that matter to them. If you are on a health waiting list, you want that health waiting list to move more quickly. If you are in a school where you can see buckets in the corridors or see work that needs to happen, of course you want that to happen sooner rather than later. We understand people's frustrations, and that is why there is a commitment across the Executive to deliver for people. <BR /> <BR />I will touch briefly on some of the key deliverables, because, frankly, listening to some of the debate in this place —.”
“We thank Members for their contributions, and we welcome the opportunity to debate Executive progress. The people whom we serve expect and demand delivery; it is what we are here to do. Almost two years ago, when the institutions were restored, we came together as an Executive and committed ourselves to working collectively to deliver what matters most to our communities. We committed to ensuring that we build a better future for all our people and deliver the key priorities for people here. We do not take that responsibility lightly. We know that the people whom we serve expect us to deliver. <BR /> <BR />In February 2025, the Executive agreed a Programme for Government to deliver on what matters most. As the first new PFG agreed in 13 years, that was a positive milestone for both government and the people of Northern Ireland.”
“Maybe the Member will clarify how the SDLP voted on draft Budgets and Budgets when it was in government. I do not believe that it supported a single one.”
“We will get that creativity only if we invest in and encourage the right skills and education. That is very much what we want to do. When we look back over the past 10 to 15 years, we see that there have been significant developments in our sectors. Some of those are in professional services. This morning, we had the opportunity to meet the Australian Acting High Commissioner to talk about the growth in professional legal services, advanced engineering and other sectors. However, the creative industries are another sector in which there has been huge growth . It is very much one of the key sectors that we continue to champion at every investment opportunity and meeting that we attend.”
“The Member will be aware of the successes, some of which I have referenced. It is not just high-end international film production such as 'Game of Thrones'; locally made programmes, such as 'Derry Girls' and 'Blue Lights', which employ huge numbers of people, are also so important and showcase so many of our locations. We all watch them and see our towns, villages and areas, which is excellent. We need to have an approach that targets all types of creative industry investment. That includes films. 'How to Train Your Dragon' was filmed in part in Northern Ireland, and it was another big global success recently. There is the high-end TV production and then local production.”
“We need to send the message loud and clear not only that Northern Ireland is open for business but that Northern Ireland, with our skills and what else we have to offer, has so much to give to those global companies and to other jurisdictions. <BR /> <BR />The Member is absolutely right: we and the UK Government need to get the foundations for growth right. The UK needs economic growth. That will not happen by accident; it will happen with the right budget, the right tax framework and the right investment in and encouragement of skills to make not just the UK but Northern Ireland attractive for that investment. I will keep championing that cause with the UK Government to ensure that the tools that we get are real game changers in getting the economic growth that allows Northern Ireland to truly flourish.”
“I thank Pam for her question and for all the hard work that she put into the junior Minister position. It was a real honour and pleasure to work with Pam over that period, and I thank her for her kind words. <BR /> <BR />I am deeply proud of Northern Ireland. We have so many incredible strengths here, not just in innovation, creativity and the strength of our businesses but in our highly skilled, dedicated and passionate people, who can give so much. I am so proud to have the opportunity to champion Northern Ireland, not just in Northern Ireland at business events, dinners, breakfasts and everything else but on the global stage. It is often a very easy sell, when we talk about all the incredible strengths that Northern Ireland has. We need to build on that. Northern Ireland needs champions.”
“We have high-class, high-quality and highly skilled people in the industry, and we have some of the best built and natural heritage as an offering. However, we need to not be at a disadvantage when it comes to the tax incentive packages that Northern Ireland Screen can offer as part of those negotiations. In addition, we must make sure that this is mainstreamed within the skills agenda in the Department for the Economy and through working with our further and higher education colleges. Indeed, it has to start earlier than that: we want to encourage young people from primary school up to look at creative industries on both the imagination and the technical sides of things, because we will need all those skills if our creative industries are to fulfil their potential and our ambition for them.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I mentioned, the Republic of Ireland has long had tax-reduction incentives for the creative industries, and it has had huge success in its creative industries on the back of those. Since the British-Irish Council meeting, which was very recent, the Republic of Ireland Government have announced a further tax incentive package for the creative industries. I would like to see the UK Government doing the same because, if we are competing in the global marketplace for that investment and both we and the Republic of Ireland are making a pitch, there is an element of competition, and what you can offer productions is key. <BR /> <BR />I am really proud of the people who work in the sector.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I see this working at different levels and layers. I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister attended. He was there throughout the entire plenary session, and he was able to listen not just to what we have to offer but to what we said about the challenges facing the industry. <BR /> <BR />There are challenges facing the industry. The global investment context is competitive, so we need to constantly evolve and invest, and we need the right tools to attract that investment. That is why, as I said, at the top level, it is very much about getting the UK Government to get their policies right, which potentially includes looking at enhancing the tax reduction incentives that the Government can offer.”
“Hospitality organisations across the UK are content that Northern Ireland hold a pilot on that. Our hospitality industry is under huge pressure. Every week, we see pubs, restaurants and cafes closing. They are really struggling because of the increase in food inflation and other issues. They need support, and I fully support a VAT reduction, even on a pilot basis initially. I urged the Prime Minister to do that pilot, and he undertook to have conversations about how it could happen. That is certainly an issue that we will follow up on robustly.”
“We welcomed the abolition of the two-child limit, but I raised concern that that was being lifted on the back of a tax threshold freeze for ordinary working families. We should not raise benefits on the back of hard-working, squeezed-middle families. The UK Government need to rethink their approach. While we called for the lifting of the two-child benefit cap and that happened, the freezing of income tax thresholds will have an impact on the pockets of every hard-working family across Northern Ireland. That was a missed opportunity, and we once again urge the Government to invest in public services and ensure in future economic events that they invest in growing the economy. <BR /> <BR />In particular, I raised the issue of a VAT pilot for hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland. That has been pushed for hard.”
“I raised directly with the Prime Minister that I believe that all of the Budget events under this Labour Government have been missed opportunities for building a Budget for economic growth across the UK. We need economic growth in Northern Ireland, but, importantly, we need economic growth across the UK to raise tax income and get the economy going in order to invest in our public services. We know that our public services, particularly in health and education, are crying out for funds. Everyone who sees a pothole on a road or a bucket in a school corridor knows that that is not good enough. We want to be able to invest and address those issues. <BR /> <BR />We raised a number of issues.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I indicated in my previous answer, there is always a focus at the British-Irish Council on that subject, but there is also always an opportunity to raise a wide range of issues. The First Minister raises a number of issues; we raise issues jointly; and I raise issues. We do that at the plenary session and at the bilaterals. <BR /> <BR />I take every opportunity to champion Northern Ireland and to raise a wide range of issues, including the Budget. Again, at every opportunity when we have engaged with the UK Government and, indeed, the Prime Minister, we have urged a Budget that supports public services but also economic growth.”
“I will continue to make that case, because I absolutely believe that many of the barriers that still exist because of the Windsor framework are there because the UK Government have not stepped up and done what they promised to do, which was to ensure unfettered trade across this United Kingdom. Those aspects are completely disproportionate and unnecessary, and they should be removed. I will continue to raise those issues at every opportunity.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also raised the very particular issues of veterinary medicines, the potential ending of the derogation in relation to GB-registered vehicles and the continued unnecessary and disproportionate barriers faced by businesses. The First Minister is in the House, and she will know that I relentlessly raise those issues at every meeting. It is a big issue that does not need to be there, and the UK Government need to step up and address it. It is an issue that only the UK Government can address. Look at acute issues such as veterinary medicines: we got a statement put out in late December, and we got some mitigations, despite the fact that I had been raising concerns about that directly for 18 months. Even what came out of that, however, is not adequate.”
“It is clear that the Member did not bother to listen to some of the questions that I have already responded to. The Member will be aware that the statement highlights the broad issues. I am here to answer questions about the detail of that. I have mentioned those issues on a number of occasions in the Chamber, but he has, nevertheless, decided to read out his pre-written question. I can assure the Member and the Assembly that, as I have already indicated, I raised the matter a number of times, including in the plenary session but particularly in the bilateral with the Prime Minister, and with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.”
“<BR /> <BR />The British-Irish Council summit provided an opportunity to talk about where we can collaborate on an isles basis. When the Prime Minister was there, we took the opportunity to make a pitch around what he could be doing to support those industries. That is why my number-one ask in my contribution was a tax incentive package, particularly in relation to high-end television productions. We had a good briefing from NI Screen before that, and I know that that was something that NI Screen particularly wanted us to raise. I believe that we got a really good opportunity to make that pitch. Fortunately, a number of other places came in to back that up as well. That is certainly something that we will be following up on.”
“I thank the Member for her question. It is a very relevant question and is probably one that is more for the Executive and Departments here to look at. She is absolutely right; we are sitting on an estate with some historic properties that are perhaps underutilised. We should try, right across Northern Ireland, to be a creative industries-friendly place, so that we can facilitate some of those productions. That has the benefit not just of bringing jobs and investment but of showcasing the best of Northern Ireland. Global audiences are looking at that, even in the sports space. The North West 200 and the golf are great productions that showcase our physical and built environment, and that attracts people who say, "Wow, I would not mind visiting there". There is a huge opportunity with that.”
“There is an opportunity do that, and I urge the Finance Minister to work with colleagues to seize that opportunity, and not just with the additional money that is there. We know that the additional money is not going to be sufficient. That efficiency needs to be driven right across government to make sure that we reprioritise that money to where it needs to be in order to build a stronger, better Northern Ireland and provide better public services for everybody.”
“As I have indicated, that opportunity is to build the foundations for growth, build strong foundations for good public services for everyone and make sure that we set down the foundations that we need to address those long-standing issues, should those be in relation to the lack of capital investment for special educational need facilities, giving the Communities Minister sufficient money to be able to build social houses to meet the target as set out in the Programme for Government, giving the Education Minister enough money to ensure teacher pay parity and make sure that our young people get the education that they deserve, or addressing the capital issues in water and sewerage infrastructure. We need a credible plan that addresses and resolves those issues within a credible time frame. Those are all key.”
“I thank the Member for his important and timely question. That is the task for the Executive. That is the challenge that we all have: to try to secure that agreement and get a multi-year Budget. There is a great opportunity here.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have urged the UK Government to address that issue fundamentally, and I took the opportunity at the British-Irish Council to raise directly with the Prime Minister the significant concerns and problems that the continued lack of EU-UK agreement on veterinary medicines for Northern Ireland is creating. The UK Government need to address this urgently. The current arrangement should only be a transitional arrangement pending a full and substantive agreement with the European Union to sort out the issue and to ensure that consumers and vets here in Northern Ireland are able to fully access all GB veterinary medicines.”
“Unfortunately, I feel that there was a slowness in taking those issues into account, but I am on record as raising it at every single opportunity. We had the opportunity of direct engagement with Nick Thomas-Symonds a couple of months ago, and I raised with him the many emails that I had received from pet owners, particularly in relation to the company-to-consumer supply chain. At that meeting, he asked me to forward some of that information, so I put out a call on social media for people who had received those emails to forward them to me to evidence the concerns on the issues, and many people did that. I forwarded those emails to Nick Thomas-Symonds, and he responded to me. The UK Government have taken a series of actions on the back of that, but they are not sufficient. They are better than they were, but they are not sufficient.”
“Again, the Member is absolutely right. As highlighted, while the focus was on the creative industries, there were opportunities to have bilateral discussions directly with the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and other key members of the UK Government and to work with our colleagues — the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland, and others — in support of what we are trying to do. <BR /> <BR />The issue that the Member referenced in relation to veterinary medicines is particular to Northern Ireland. It is something that I have consistently raised at every single meeting with the Prime Minister; Nick Thomas-Symonds, who is the lead in relation to the EU-UK negotiations; the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and others.”
“While I have mentioned Studio Ulster quite a bit, I also want to recognise the other excellent studios, including those that the Member mentioned — Titanic Studios and Loop Studios in his constituency — which do incredible work and are also expanding, and that is good to see.”
“The UK Government should look at a differential tax incentive package to encourage investment outside London, particularly for high-end TV work, and they should look at the Republic of Ireland's experience and success in using tax incentive packages to attract such international investments to their jurisdiction.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Of course, the ideal is that everyone collaborates. I note that, shortly after the British-Irish Council, the Irish Government announced a tax incentive to try to draw screen productions to the Republic of Ireland, and we do not have that tool in Northern Ireland. Indeed, I urged the Prime Minister to look at some of those tax-reduction incentives to encourage film and high-end TV production not just in the UK as a whole but regionally. London and the south-east of England attract a lot of high-end TV production in comparison with the rest of the UK. Northern Ireland’s achievement of attracting Game of Thrones was a good example of how, if other regions attract such productions, there is a huge benefit for them. That point was backed up by the Welsh, Scottish and other Governments.”
“There is a real opportunity. If we are developing something that is on the cutting edge of technology, we also need to be acutely aware that it moves on rapidly. We have a window where the facility is world-leading, and we need to take the opportunity in the next number of weeks, months and years to make sure that we seize the opportunity presented by a world-leading facility to secure the contracts now, before other places catch up in two, three or four years' time. It is an amazing facility, and I encourage everybody thinking about investing to come and look at it, and we are more than happy to facilitate visits from investment groups to Northern Ireland to see what we have to offer in that space.”
“I always find that, when I reference that, there is a sense of discomfort from some other parties, but the reality is that we live in a political world where many people try to claim the success of everything despite playing no part in it. On this one, we were absolutely responsible — 100%, on the record — for securing the city and growth deals, and I am proud of that because we are seeing the results of that in the legacy projects. Studio Ulster is one of those projects. I am pleased that, in my constituency of Lagan Valley, we were able just yesterday to secure planning permission for a £50 million-plus investment in Royal Hillsborough, and that is a direct result of the DUP's confidence-and-supply agreement. <BR /> <BR />Studio Ulster is a world-class facility, and it is something we should be deeply proud of.”
“I thank the Member for his question and, indeed, for highlighting the origin of that funding. When I look back at the 2017-19 Parliament, I recall many challenges and memories, both good and bad, but I am deeply proud that the DUP negotiated hard through the confidence-and-supply deal to secure the city and growth deals for Northern Ireland for the first time. It had been talked about for some time for Northern Ireland. We had not been able to get it over the line with the UK Government, but, through hard negotiation, we secured agreement not just of the Belfast city and growth deal but of multiple deals.”
“We need to look not just at how much money is required but at how we use that money. It is taxpayers' money, so we have an obligation and a responsibility to use it in the best way possible. There are opportunities, and I urge the Finance Minister to look at the feedback from the consultation and then try to reach consensus across the Executive on a Budget that builds the foundations for the economic growth and strong public services that Northern Ireland not just needs but deserves.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The multi-year Budget process presents a really good opportunity for all of us to try to secure something that builds the foundations for growth and for stable, positive and good public services in Northern Ireland. We should seize that opportunity. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right that there is not a significant amount of additional money to go towards priorities, and that is why I have urged the Finance Minister to look at each of the departmental baselines. What happens during the Budget process is that we tend to roll forward the baselines that existed in the previous Budget period. The hundreds of budget lines that sit within those baselines need to be rigorously examined, particularly for prioritisation and efficiency and to drive down waste.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said, the previous BIC meeting was on green and renewable energies and technologies, while this one was on the creative industries. I took the opportunity at both meetings to raise energy security and broader security issues. Technology can play an important part. For example, I visited a very good company, Camlin, in my constituency that does an awful lot of pipe security work, and it uses technology to check on the security of such cables. There is huge potential with that when it comes to our defence requirements as well. I urge the Prime Minister and, indeed, the CDL to seize the opportunities from those emerging technologies and to recognise in a real way, as we saw during storm Éowyn, how critical electricity security, energy security and other issues are to absolutely everything that we do.”