Caoimhe Archibald
East Londonderry · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Taken together, that points to a scheme that is operating effectively in its early stages, while, of course, remaining under review as further evidence becomes available. <BR /> <BR />I therefore commend to the Assembly the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.”
“I seek the Assembly's approval for the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. The statutory rule was made on 1 April and came into operation on 6 April. It is before the Assembly today under the confirmatory procedure.”
“The 2026 regulatory impact assessment estimates one-off employer familiarisation costs of up to £1·36 million, with wider HMRC implementation costs forecast at £1·5 million and annual systems maintenance costs of around £10,000. It may assist Members to note that early implementation has gone smoothly.”
“The amendment ensures the continued operation of those regulations and forms part of a wider package of legislative measures establishing statutory parental bereavement pay as an entitlement for bereaved parents.”
“The regulations before the Assembly today are a key part of that implementation and ensure the continued operation of the statutory parental bereavement pay framework. The policy objective is clear: to support bereaved working parents at a time of profound loss and provide a minimum standard of protection in law.”
“<BR /> <BR />The confirmatory procedure means that the regulations before the House today have come into operation before the Assembly debate has taken place and must then be approved by the Assembly within the relevant statutory period. In this case, the deadline for approval is 20 September 2026.”
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“It is therefore not possible to provide a precise breakdown of the scale of resource dedicated to anaerobic digestion. <BR /> <BR />My Department, like all Departments, faces a constrained fiscal situation, but we are working hard to bring forward policies and programmes that will benefit the sector and the wider economy. That work includes advancing biomethane actions such as issuing a public consultation on the treatment of connection costs and gas quality standards in early 2026. My Department will continue to collaborate with DAERA, the Utility Regulator and other key stakeholders to support the development of a sustainable biomethane sector.”
“The energy strategy aims to ensure a secure, affordable and clean energy system for current and future generations by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing local renewable generation and creating a flexible, resilient and integrated energy system that closely monitors and enhances security of supply. Anaerobic digestion supports the energy strategy and the economic vision by enabling the decarbonisation of energy and promoting regional balance through economic activity in rural areas. The anaerobic digestion sector has also benefited from support through the Northern Ireland renewables obligation. The energy system is complex and interconnected, with policy officials being supported finance, analysis and legislation colleagues.”
“I thank the Member for her question. She will be aware of the measures that the Infrastructure Minister has taken in advance of the Christmas period to minimise traffic disruption. However, we want people to be out in the shops and on our high streets, spending money and supporting businesses in advance of Christmas, so a certain amount of traffic, which we want to see, is not within that control. I am committed to working with my ministerial colleague to ensure that the festive period is successful for businesses. I endorse the Retail Consortium campaign about being kind to our shopworkers over the Christmas period and not taking our frustrations out on people who are trying to help us. I will be more than happy to work with ministerial colleagues to get the best out of that time.”
“I do not agree with the Member in that regard. What we are trying to achieve with the 'good jobs' Bill is to ensure that workers have good terms and conditions and that businesses that are doing the right thing and implementing good policies and supporting their workers are not being undercut by those who are less scrupulous. Working with business organisations and the trade unions, we are charting a way forward with the 'good jobs' Bill that will adopt a balanced approach, benefiting employers and workers alike.”
“When I was Finance Minister, I commissioned research on the cost of doing business that provided an evidence base for Treasury to look at some of the interventions where there are differential impacts in the North. It would have suited the Treasury better to do that, and it would be wise for it to consider that going forward. I am committed to working with all my colleagues to address the challenges that businesses face. I engage with businesses and their representatives regularly in order to understand the issues that have an impact on them.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I concur with a lot of what he said: it is a challenging environment for business for a range of reasons. There are lots of cost pressures. All of us will endorse the idea that the lowest paid should have their wages topped up annually, but, alongside other cumulatively increasing costs, that poses a challenge for businesses. I am absolutely committed to working with my Executive colleagues and the Finance Minister in particular to make representations to the British Government about the need for interventions that will support businesses to grow and thrive. <BR /> <BR />Disappointingly, we did not see a great deal in last week's Budget that will deliver on that.”
“My economic vision is geared towards driving the economic change that we need to ensure that people across the North are able to benefit from that transformation.”
“The recent increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, persistently high energy costs and the higher input costs driven by inflation are major components of the challenge. Many of the issues are outside my Department's remit, but support exists for businesses on a number of fronts, including support to invest in low-carbon energy to reduce energy costs. In addition, alongside its delivery partners, my Department provides a range of supports for businesses to help them to become more competitive through innovation, skills and support for exploring new markets. Ultimately, businesses will thrive when they have the support available to meet their full potential within the constraints in which they operate.”
“On Friday, I attended a business leaders' event organised by Invest NI, which had a particular focus on the north-west. I then had the opportunity to attend the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Ulster University and the University of Massachusetts. There is a huge amount of positive economic news coming out of the north-west, with recent investments and announcements, and I was delighted to take that message to the business community in the States.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I was in Boston for two days at the end of last week on a trip that was specifically about promoting the north-west as a leading location for investment and trade. On Thursday, hosted by Tourism NI, I had the opportunity to meet representatives of the American travel trade. I delivered a keynote address at the Golden Bridges conference, which highlights the best of the north-west to an influential Irish-American business audience. I met former US envoy Joe Kennedy to discuss building on the momentum that he had created and strengthening transatlantic economic ties with US companies. I also had the opportunity to meet one of our current investors, who is planning further investment here. That was on Thursday.”
“I agree. It can be challenging to find a tradesperson to do a job for you, because they are so busy. You will probably be surprised to hear that the most popular apprenticeships are those in construction trades. We need to put a focus on that, because we need tradespeople in those areas, be they construction workers, electricians or plumbers. We need the appropriate labour to support us in our initiatives in relation to meeting our net zero targets, for example, and our housebuilding targets. It is critical for us to ensure that people come through into our construction trades.”
“The number of people in apprenticeships has increased significantly over the past number of years, which is a sign of success, but we have still more young people who would take up the opportunity if they had an employer to offer it. My work is now very much about encouraging more employers to offer such opportunities and ensuring that they have the appropriate support to do so.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We recently published the apprenticeship action plan. The plan is about ensuring that apprenticeships are readily available and accessible and that they meet the needs of business while being person-centred and meeting the needs of our young people and, increasingly, people of all ages. A number of the initiatives under the apprenticeship action plan are about ensuring that businesses have the capability and support in place to offer apprenticeships, which is certainly really important. <BR /> <BR />I have had significant correspondence from MLAs and others in recent weeks about the challenges that young people face in obtaining apprenticeships.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I agree that data is really important in evidencing progress, and, in the Department, we are looking at using that to ensure that the objectives that we set ourselves under the departmental plan are met and to measure how we perform against those objectives. <BR /> <BR />Invest NI has subregional targets on jobs and job creation across council areas that it will progress under its business plan. In our regional focus, we will work closely alongside Invest NI. Through local economic partnerships in particular, there is an opportunity to ensure that the skills needs in each area are met. I very much encourage that collaborative approach. Our regional colleges are represented on all the partnerships, so there is a real opportunity for effective tie-in.”
“<BR /> <BR />If we are thinking about how we take that regional approach, as I mentioned, we now have the subregional economic plan to guide us, and that is showing success. The local economic partnerships, working alongside the labour market partnerships that are under the remit of the Department for Communities, can make sure that there is better alignment in local areas to ensure that the skills meet the business needs.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Skills are the top priority for me, as Minister, because they underpin everything else that we are trying to achieve across the four priorities of the economic vision. We need people with the appropriate skills to fill the good jobs that we are trying to create in regions across the North. When I engage with businesses, I find that skills is the top issue that they raise. We are ensuring that there are pathways that have been designed in partnership with industry through our sectoral partnerships so that the programmes, traineeships, apprenticeships and other programmes meet the needs of the businesses that are trying to grow and expand.”
“I do not have a crystal ball to help me understand what the impacts might be, but I expect there to be robust evaluations of the initiatives' achievements. I expect them to be successful and to have positive outcomes, because, when there is community buy-in and something is built from the ground up, it will meet the needs of those whom you are trying to serve. Certainly, the intent behind the community wealth-building partnerships is to leverage local assets for the benefit of the community, and I fully anticipate that they will be positive. We have two pilot schemes that could be rolled out across the board to support other communities to do likewise.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I certainly see a strong synergy between the initiatives that are being taken forward under the community wealth-building pilot projects and what can be done with our local economic partnerships. The intent behind the local economic partnerships was to democratise power back to local areas so that they could design the projects that best meet their needs. I strongly encourage the tie-in with community, voluntary and other third-sector organisations to ensure that there is a place-based approach to economic development that meets the needs of everybody across our communities. There is a real opportunity there for our local economic partnerships and such initiatives to make a real difference in communities.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I am not aware of that initiative, but I am happy to look into it and for my officials to evaluate its objectives and outworkings. I, too, am lobbied by hospitality businesses that find things challenging in the current circumstances, and we all know that last year's Budget from the Chancellor had measures that were damaging to small businesses in particular. Hopefully, in the coming Budget, we will see a reversal of some of those measures. We also know that, comparatively speaking, the level of VAT in the South impacts on hospitality businesses in the North, and, along with the Finance Minister, I continue to make the case that we act as a pilot in the reduction of VAT for the hospitality sector. Again, that is something that we will continue to pursue.”
“Recently, the Infrastructure Minister and I, along with a number of Executive colleagues, brought forward the night-time economy initiative, which is aimed expressly at getting footfall back into our city centre at night. That is a pilot for this year, but, hopefully, we can build on it in the coming years.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The report by the high street task force had a number of recommendations. My Department has taken forward those that fall within my responsibility. On place-based regeneration, it is worth saying that, with the Communities Minister, I recently announced funding for community wealth-building pilot projects in the north-west and Larne. Those are good initiatives that give communities the power to design the support that they want to see in their area and initiatives that will support their area. <BR /> <BR />I am more than happy to work with Executive colleagues to ensure that our high streets are vibrant places. Most of the responsibility sits directly with the Communities Minister and, to some extent, the Finance Minister, but I am open to any initiatives that can support our high streets.”
“When I set out the way forward on the 'good jobs' Bill in April, I set out what would be contained in the Bill. Drafters are progressing the legislation. I do not see why you would anticipate seeing the contents of the Bill before it has been introduced in the Assembly. As I said, I view it as being on track.”
“The good jobs agenda is about putting more money in workers' pockets, prosperity and ensuring that people have access to a good job, a good work-life balance and good working conditions. I am a little bemused by the question, because, in April, when I announced the way forward, I indicated that it would be January before the legislation was introduced. Therefore, I do not see that there has been any delay.”
“While there have been no recent studies on APD's economic impact on the local economy, I have asked my officials to examine a number of policy options, including potential APD reform. Officials recently met key aviation stakeholders and are preparing a consultation document that is to be issued in the coming months.”
“Any change, however, to the rate of short-haul APD here must be weighed against the financial consequences. I believe that the British Government should bear the responsibility for those financial consequences, in recognition of our status as an island and the requirement for air travel.”
“As part of our efforts to encourage more flights, the rate has been set at zero.”
“The setting of air passenger duty is a reserved matter that is legislated for by the Treasury, which then collects APD. I consider APD to be an unfair tax that continues to have a significant detrimental impact on domestic aviation, as was acknowledged by Sir Peter Hendy in the Union connectivity review. The British Government need to address that. As an island, we rely heavily on air travel. The current rate of air passenger duty set by the British Government is the highest in Europe. Adding an extra cost burden thus has a disproportionate impact on us that undermines our competitiveness and accessibility. That impact is heightened when we look at the South, where APD was abolished in 2014. <BR /> <BR />Since 2012, the Executive have had the delegated authority to set the APD rate for long-haul flights.”
“Yes, although I am not sure that I have the full details in front of me. The consultation has completed, and we will publish information on the way forward in the very near future. If the Member wishes to write to me, I will furnish her with her further details, but that is the gist of it.”
“I thank the Member for his question, as it gives me the opportunity to address the issue. The Audit Office reported on three targets and found that progress was being made on two of them. For the third target — energy efficiency — the issue was with data, and we, as a Department, need to resolve that. <BR /> <BR />Of the funding that has been utilised to date, over £70 million has gone to invest-to-save projects across public services. Those projects are saving in the region of £8 million or £9 million annually. The investment that has been made is therefore saving the public purse money. That is to be welcomed. It shows public-sector leadership. We will take on board the recommendations in the Audit Office report, one of which is to do a mid-strategy review, which we intend to publish before the end of the year.”
“As I indicated, it is my intention to publish the decision before the end of the year. Its implementation will progress during 2026. As I said in my initial answer, I know that rural constituents in particular have lobbied for greater socialisation of grid connection costs for a long time. I have to consider the options in front of me and the consultation responses. I am keen to progress implementation as soon as possible, however.”
“A review of grid connection charges here remains a priority for me. I intend to publish a decision paper later this year, with implementation planned for 2026. My Department has consulted on the options for transitioning to a more socialised grid connection charging policy. Greater socialisation of grid connection costs will make it easier for individuals, businesses and communities to connect to the electricity network. That is particularly important for our rural communities. Those of us who represent rural constituencies will no doubt have had constituents raise the issue with them on many occasions. It is also important for enabling the roll-out of low-carbon technologies and electric vehicles in order to meet our objectives in the transition to net zero.”
“If we align our planning and delivery, and have appropriate sharing of data and coordination of different programmes, we can provide learners with the best possible opportunities while also ensuring value for money. Our focus therefore needs to be on delivering a joined-up offer that meets the needs of all young people and avoids unnecessary overlap in order to maximise the impact of every pound that we spend.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We are all aware of the financial pressures that the Department of Education is under. Putting increasing student numbers into its remit may further stretch that available funding. My Department is also under funding pressure. I have tried very hard to prioritise skills within my funding envelope, but, certainly, with more funding, we could do an awful lot more. That is why it is more important than ever that we work together to avoid duplication and make the best use of our combined resources. As I said, I am absolutely committed to collaborating closely with the Education Minister to ensure that our facilities are properly utilised.”
“Certainly, I will engage closely with the Education Minister to ensure that our priorities align — they do, generally, in what we are trying to achieve for young people — to make sure that we are working together and have a whole suite of options that young people can pursue, regardless of where they come from or their aspirations.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Certainly, I support the broad intention of the legislation to ensure that all our young people have opportunities. Currently, there is a lack of sufficient detail to properly comment on the specifics. As I mentioned, we need to see all pathways appropriately funded to ensure that they deliver. It is important that we work together to avoid duplication and make the best use of our combined resources. <BR /> <BR />I believe that we have world-class further education facilities. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to open two of our new campuses, which are fantastic. There is a real opportunity for us to be world-leading in the type of initiatives and programmes that we put in place for our young people, particularly across the remit of apprenticeships.”
“The Minister of Education and I met in May to discuss his proposals for 16-18 legislation. We will meet again at the end of this month to continue that discussion, alongside other cross-cutting issues relating to 14-19 education. My officials have maintained ongoing engagement with the Department of Education on those matters through the established 14-19 structures. I note that it is vital that that work is underpinned by strong interdepartmental collaboration, clear operational planning and meaningful engagement with young people themselves. Legislation alone will not be enough; it must be matched by adequate funding and a whole-systems approach to ensure equity and meaningful change for every young person.”
“As a mitigation to meet security of supply for demand until the run-hours reset on 1 January 2026, my departmental officials have been engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, providing evidence that, under the circumstances, it is necessary to increase the running hours at Kilroot. That has happened because of unexpected issues with Coolkeeragh, which was taken out for repair and has not yet come back on. Therefore, to ensure security of supply, we have increased the number of run hours that are permitted at Kilroot. Those will be reset on 1 January, and that has obtained the agreement of the Executive.”
“I am not sure why the Member thinks that I have not been clear on the issue. The North/South interconnector is critical infrastructure. It is really unfortunate that it will be delayed; some of the issues that we have been dealing with recently in relation to the security of supply would not be happening if we had the North/South interconnector. <BR /> <BR />The Member is well aware of my party's long-stated policy in respect of the interconnector's being overground or underground. We also have a planning application that has been approved. Departments have to ensure that that is progressed and implemented as set out.”
“The Member is well aware that I am across my brief. I do not have differences with Invest NI, so I am not sure what he is talking about in that regard. What the Utility Regulator is doing for Kilroot is part of its job. I assure you that energy branch in my Department is fully engaged in ensuring that our consumers are protected and that all the appropriate functions are being carried out.”
“The Utility Regulator (UR) announced on 30 October 2025 that it has launched a formal investigation into the matter. The investigation is being carried out in accordance with the UR's enforcement procedure. The details of the investigation are confidential while it is ongoing in order to allow for due process.”
“I will look for further opportunities to do so for regions right across the North.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am sure that he will be aware of the subregional economic plan that was published last year, which put a new focus on regional development, including by Invest NI. It included a target for investment outside of the Belfast metropolitan area of 65% over the three-year business period. In the first year, that increased to 59%, so we can point to some success in the short space of time in which that and the subregional economic plan have been in place. Regional balance is increasingly important. I have put a particular focus on it; it is one of my four priorities under the economic vision. I will certainly encourage Invest NI to look at regions right across the North. Just last week, I was in Boston, supporting a delegation from the north-west to attract investment and trade opportunities.”
“The Member will be well aware of my position on the funding of the British Government's militarisation agenda in favour of public services, infrastructure and things that would be beneficial to the population. The Member will also be well aware that advanced manufacturing and engineering is one of the priority sectors of our economy and, accordingly, attracts support from the Department and Invest NI. There are other initiatives that are funded and supported by the British Government that businesses here have the opportunity to avail themselves of directly by engaging with the British Government.”
“I look forward to working closely with the new leadership team as we continue our shared mission to foster innovation, attract investment and deliver prosperity for communities right across the North.”
“The independent review of Invest NI made clear that there was a need for a refreshed and dynamic leadership team to drive that organisation forward. I am pleased to report that decisive steps have been taken to implement that recommendation with the appointment of Anne Beggs as chief commercial officer, Kathryn Hill as chief operating officer and Alison Currie as chief development officer. Those appointments reflect a commitment to strong, inclusive leadership and bring a wealth of experience and expertise to Invest NI at a pivotal time for our economy. I commend Kieran Donoghue for his decisive leadership in ensuring that the organisation is well positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
“The independent review of Invest NI, commissioned to assess the organisation's efficiency and effectiveness, identified significant challenges and called for profound transformation. In response, my Department, working closely with Invest NI and key stakeholders, published a comprehensive action plan comprising 35 strategic actions to drive meaningful change and align the agency with my economic vision. To date, 28 of those actions have been fully implemented, delivering improvements in leadership, organisational structure and operational delivery. The remaining seven actions are on track for completion by December 2026. Through that collaborative effort, I am committed to ensuring that Invest NI is better equipped to support businesses, foster regional balance and drive sustainable economic growth across the North.”
“I do not agree with the Member that that is the case. In fact, I do not believe that my announcements breach the Windsor framework agreement in any way.”
“I completely agree with what the Member has set out. What is controversial is the Education Minister's trip and his cheerleading for a state that has perpetrated the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, has created more child amputees per capita in Gaza than in any other place in the world, is responsible for the initialism WCNSF — wounded child, no surviving family — has destroyed civilian infrastructure and is enforcing starvation on a population. The measures that I have announced have absolutely nothing to do with the perpetrators of such abhorrent actions and are in no way controversial in my opinion.”
“As part of the measures that I announced on 16 October, my officials are developing an ethical investment framework. The initial scoping for the framework will be based on the UN's 'Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights', which are the three principles of protect, respect and remedy. It will also be informed by a variety of stakeholders, including arm's-length bodies of the Department as well as the business and human rights sectors. There will be a formal consultation period and an opportunity for members of the public to input their views. It will be completed before the end of the mandate.”
“As I clearly outlined in my opening answer, I did not decide that. It was set out by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, which found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and by the International Court of Justice, which found the Palestinian occupation to be unlawful. What I announced upholds international law. It is a basic moral position that has been adopted in order not to associate ourselves with public funding that is going to the manufacture of arms or components that will be used for genocide. As I have said very clearly on a number of occasions, I do not consider that position to be controversial in any way whatsoever.”