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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“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I disagree with his characterisation of our development of policy in the energy division. He will know, from his role in Committee, that an awful lot is going on at the moment in that division, in parallel, across a number of policy areas. He will understand that the development of the final scheme design is highly complex and encompasses multiple interdependent elements and technical considerations. Some of those are still under consideration within the Department by officials and me. The Member will also know that we have the energy strategy action plan for 2025, which sets out all the actions that will be taken within this calendar year. We are on track with those, and, hopefully, he will see the updates as they come forward.”
“The final scheme design will provide a comprehensive update, including eligibility criteria, delivery roles and responsibilities and an outline of the contract allocation process. <BR /> <BR />As per the energy strategy action plan for 2025, the final scheme design is due to be published in quarter 2 of 2025. I then plan to bring primary legislation before the Assembly this year, with subordinate regulations to follow as we move towards the first auction in quarter 3 of 2026. That will contribute to the Climate Change Act 2022 target of 80% electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.”
“The development of a support scheme for renewable electricity generation is an action in the Executive's energy strategy. In 2023, my Department published a consultation on design considerations for the scheme. In the same year, Aurora Energy Research was contracted to provide the technical expertise needed to formulate the high-level design. The high-level design and the Government response to the consultation were published in 2024, outlining the wider policy objectives and providing an illustrative auction road map for renewable generation to be supported. Further technical modelling and a financial impact assessment have been conducted, alongside the consideration of the legislative and state aid pathways and the institutional roles and responsibilities necessary for delivery.”
“I am more than willing to work with my Executive colleagues to overcome some of the challenges that we face with the roll-out of the type of high-class mobile infrastructure that we need.”
“I am happy to engage with my officials, who will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that residents and businesses can avail themselves of world-class connectivity. I am sure that my officials would be happy to engage with local elected representatives. I recognise the concern that has been raised, including by Aisling, that those issues predate some of the attacks. It is important that we understand all the challenges that are being faced with regard to those issues. I am, of course, happy to engage with my counterparts in the British Government to highlight the issue and the frustration of the local community. We can all continue to work together.”
“Results indicate that there is a direct correlation between the mast attacks and the level of service that is available. The emergency services have used valuable resources to attend those attacks. I understand that residents, local businesses, leisure facilities, on-call nurses and taxi companies in particular, have all been impacted on. It is completely unacceptable. I share the frustration of the West Belfast community, who have been severely inconvenienced. <BR /> <BR />Digital connectivity is an enabler for many of the Executive's economic priorities. It is essential that we are able to realise the same benefits here from mobile connectivity that we have for our excellent fixed-line connectivity.”
“As has been discussed throughout the debate, mobile network operators report that vandalism and damage to mobile masts and equipment is a key cause of reduction in service in West Belfast. I urge the perpetrators of that unlawful and dangerous behaviour to stop so that the West Belfast community can avail itself of reliable mobile connectivity. It is quite simply unacceptable to endanger life and property through wanton acts of vandalism and arson. Communities should not be subjected to the risks and consequences that are experienced when essential equipment is damaged. <BR /> <BR />Any damage to mobile infrastructure is costly to repair or replace, and has the potential to inhibit operators' ability to invest in improvements. I am aware of a survey of West Belfast residents that has recently been conducted by my party colleagues.”
“<BR /> <BR />While mobile infrastructure roll-out is delivered on a purely commercial basis here, my officials participate in a number of activities to help to support investment in telecoms infrastructure and to facilitate improvements in connectivity. They coordinate the barrier busting task force, which is the delivery vehicle for the mobile action plan developed to identify the barriers to fast and efficient deployment of mobile infrastructure and the practical actions that could be taken to create the right environment to encourage further investment in its roll-out. Officials are also investigating potential alternative funding streams to establish their viability for extending and improving mobile connectivity here in the North.”
“<BR /> <BR />That having been said, people's actual experience does not always match up to reported coverage, and, clearly, in this case, it does not. Ofcom is currently taking steps to improve the accuracy of coverage reporting. In the wireless infrastructure strategy, Ofcom has been tasked with continuing to hold the mobile network operators to account through on-the-ground signal testing and to improve the accuracy of its coverage reporting through increased use of crowdsourced data. <BR /> <BR />I understand that Ofcom has developed proposals to improve coverage reporting, and I met Ofcom representatives recently to discuss their proposed improvements and several other local related issues regarding telecommunications. I raised this particular issue.”
“It is essential for our everyday lives and long-term prosperity, as Members have mentioned. Modern society simply demands reliable and fast communication networks to drive economic activity and to allow citizens to keep in touch, stay safe, access public services and participate in modern society. <BR /> <BR />Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, publishes mobile coverage measurements in its 'Connected Nations' report. Coverage here is reported as one of the best in these islands, so it is really concerning to hear of the issues in West Belfast. Ofcom relayed high and very high levels of confidence for outside premises 5G coverage here. It also reports that, overall, 4G geographic coverage is widely available.”
“I thank the Member for securing this Adjournment debate and welcome the opportunity for this discussion. I very much recognise the frustration of poor coverage. Like Deborah, I live in a rural area where coverage is very patchy indeed. I also recognise the reliance that many people place on their mobile phone. Many, including me, no longer have a landline. There is not just an expectation but a need for good-quality coverage. The examples that have been given by Members highlight people's reliance and the impact of not having decent coverage. <BR /> <BR />Affordable, reliable and secure digital connectivity is absolutely essential to citizens and businesses. The availability and exchange of information that is afforded by telecommunications ensures that citizens and businesses are connected within communities and with the wider world.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“My officials and Invest NI are closely supporting council leads in developing next steps as to what the park can offer and how it can be best connected to other such projects in the North.”
“My officials have been working closely with Mid Ulster District Council, Invest NI and the Policing Board on the sale of the Desertcreat site to the council, with a June 2025 target date. Successfully developing the Desertcreat site will be a significant opportunity for the region. Invest NI has therefore commenced work on the business case for investment of at least £36·7 million in the first phase of a green innovation park located on the site as part of the Mid South West growth deal. Desertcreat has the potential to stimulate long-term, regionally balanced economic growth and create high-value employment opportunities for the region. The project presents a real opportunity to support the transition to net zero while addressing the shortfall in industrial land in that area.”
“The Mid South West growth deal, as the Member will be well aware, is a key driver of subregional economic growth for that region. It presents significant opportunities to scale investment in key areas in the region, which has particular strengths, including substantial investment in a whole programme of decarbonisation projects. That will see increased productivity and job creation for the region. I am committed to the acceleration of the growth deal, and my officials are working closely with partners in the Mid South West growth deal and are providing support to co-design and develop projects. The deal is targeting December 2026 for the deal's signing to unlock the funding, at which point the deal will move into delivery phase.”
“I concur with the Member's assessment of those issues. In my previous role as Finance Minister, I made specific representations to Treasury on both issues. I am happy to throw my weight behind the efforts of the Executive and the Finance Minister specifically and to work alongside my colleagues in raising our voices on those issues.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Farming and agri-food is a key sector for our economy, and agri-food and agri-tech are priority sectors for my Department. There is a sectoral action plan to support those sectors. <BR /> <BR />The issues that he mentioned are captured in the information that has been made available via the Finance Minister's report on the cost of doing business, and we will continue to make representations on that. I work closely with my colleague the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on the issues that are impacting on the farming community and, in particular, the agri-food sector.”
“The economic engagement forum comprises a cross-sectoral representation of organisations, as I outlined. The selection is done by me and the Department. The Member might also be referring to the Labour Relations Agency engagement forum. The membership of that is the responsibility of the Labour Relations Agency.”
“On the 'good jobs' Bill, we are undertaking specific engagement with organisations, business representatives, trade union representatives and third-sector representatives. Officials have begun that process and have been out engaging already. We will be keen to promote that as much as possible over the coming weeks and months. I have also set up an economic engagement forum, the purpose of which is to facilitate regular two-way engagement with representatives across a range of sectors, including the business community, the community and voluntary sector, social enterprises, education and trade unions, to ensure that we are working towards and making progress against the economic vision. It creates space for discussion on the opportunities and challenges that face our economy, and it enables me to share regular updates with Members.”
“As the Member will recognise, a project of the scale of the expansion of the Magee campus requires everybody to work together towards the same objective. That cannot be done if anyone is excluded. The task force includes people from the local business community, the community and voluntary sector, Invest NI, the council, the trade union movement, the Irish Government, my Department and the university. Everyone is committed to the project and is working collaboratively to deliver the places for 10,000 students as quickly as possible.”
“Of course, we are also expanding the Magee campus to accommodate 10,000 students, and we are investing in the City of Derry Airport. To be clear, public investment in small regional airports is common across these islands and the world because Governments recognise that, although they are often not fully commercially viable, the broader economic benefits that they deliver merit support. As any credible economist will know, value for money is an assessment of all social and economic benefits, so promoting regional balance, including in Derry, remains a key, justified and realistic part of my economic agenda.”
“Yes, I certainly do. There is a belief — one that, perhaps, was prevalent at one point in the Civil Service — that regional balance is not an achievable economic goal, and, therefore, public investment in places like Derry is not value for money and is politically motivated. That is not a view that I share, but it justified decades of underinvestment and discrimination. Public policy and investment can and do shape the geographical balance of economies. <BR /> <BR />My Department, as the Member will know, is forming local economic partnerships to address the economic barriers in council areas to help them realise the opportunities that exist. We have set Invest NI a target of making 65% of its investments outside of the greater Belfast area and are strengthening its local offices.”
“There has been significant engagement with a range of organisations, but I do not have the full list in front of me. However, I can certainly commit to ensuring that there will be consultation and engagement with disability organisations to ensure that those views are captured in what we are trying to progress.”
“I thank the Member for that question. Ensuring that we have an inclusive workforce is a direct outworking of what we are trying to do with the 'good jobs' Bill. There are a number of proposals in it that support that ambition, including the right to flexible working and the right to disconnect for a greater work-life balance. A key objective is a more inclusive economy and workforce, and we are working on other aims and objectives in addition to the work that we are doing on the 'good jobs' Bill. For example, through our skills and training programmes, we are ensuring that there are opportunities for people to take up and are trying to reduce the barriers. We are also implementing a work stream with employers to remove some of the unnecessary barriers that people face in trying to take up a work opportunity.”
“I am happy to engage with the Member on that issue, and I will furnish him with information on it from the Department.”
“I am familiar with the proposals that were made at the time. The COVID pandemic then hit, however, and plans for many things changed.”
“Since I came into this post, I have not had any engagement with colleagues in Westminster on the Heathrow expansion. We previously engaged at a constituency level, however. If the Member wants to write to me about that specific issue, I will be happy to pick up on it.”
“The Executive are trying to ensure that we have a viable economy and a skills pipeline, but, from my perspective, we need to see proper support for students.”
“The Member has articulated the challenge that we face with partition, which is damaging for everybody across this island. The reality is that I take the exact same position as my colleagues in the South, and I articulated at the beginning of my answer that, from my perspective, I would like to see no student fees. We are, however, in a reality in which we do not have the financial capability or the fiscal powers that the Government in the South have. We have costed proposals to reduce and remove student fees. As I said, in the North, we are in a position in which we have a system of fees imposed on us that the Tory Government put in place and that the Labour Government are maintaining.”
“Unfortunately, as I outlined in previous answers, the Executive are in a position in which, for the past number of years, they have been mitigating the effects of decisions and bad policies from Westminster. It is the same when it comes to student fees.”
“I thank the Member for her question. First, let me say that my perspective is that student fees would ideally be zero, but we have to work within the financial reality and under the system that we have, which is imposed on us by the British Government, and follow that Government's policy on fees. Years of austerity have had an impact on all our public services, including our universities, which are a key economic driver, so we need to ensure that fees are set at a level that is affordable for students and that maintains universities' financial viability. It is also important to look at the maintenance support that is in place for students. It has not been uplifted for many years.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The issue is raised at almost every meeting that I have with businesses. The overall impact of AI on the labour market will depend on a range of factors, including the speed of AI adoption, the extent of productivity benefits, whether businesses reduce headcount or redeploy their workforce, and by how much and how quickly AI increases demand for labour. As I said in my original answer, the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre is supporting the Department and businesses to understand AI and providing practical support on its adoption.”
“<BR /> <BR />Further support mechanisms include initiatives such as the digital transformation flexible fund, which assists SMEs with the adoption costs of AI and other digital infrastructure; Digital Catapult NI, which connects firms with AI expertise and accelerates advanced technology uptake; and Go Succeed NI, which runs regular events to help businesses to navigate digital transformation, including AI adoption. Together, those measures provide businesses across the North with access to funding, skills, expert guidance and collaborative opportunities to successfully integrate and benefit from AI advancements, boosting productivity and global competitiveness.”
“My Department and Invest NI are committed to helping businesses harness artificial intelligence (AI) as a key enabler of economic development. Invest NI provides funding for AI-related research and development projects and essential skills development programmes to equip the workforce for AI adoption. <BR /> <BR />The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre funded by DFE and Invest NI offers direct access to expertise and supports practical AI implementation and AI skills. Furthermore, city deal innovation centres under the Belfast region city deal and the Derry City and Strabane region city deal provide regional investment in innovation infrastructure. Those centres will foster AI applications in critical sectors such as ICT, advanced manufacturing and life sciences.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I understand that, alongside the pay offer that has been made, work is necessary to address parity issues that remain between teachers and further education lecturers. That is an essential condition of the pay offer that is currently available. I have made it clear that I want to see progress at pace on those issues. I remain fully supportive of equitable remuneration for further education lecturers.”
“Non-teaching staff have already been given a pay award for 2024-25 that was approved in December 2024. I am aware that the National Joint Council (NJC) has made a full and final pay offer for 2025-26 that, if agreed, will apply to non-teaching staff in our further education colleges. <BR /> <BR />Mr Speaker, it was remiss of me not to have said at the start of my answer that I wished to group questions 5 and 10.”
“In addition, a 3% pay increase has been proposed for 2025-26, providing much-needed stability for lecturers and students alike. <BR /> <BR />The further education colleges, as employers, are also progressing a range of agreed work streams, including workload, in conjunction with trade unions in the 2025-26 academic year. As in all Departments, my budget is under severe pressure; however, by working collaboratively with colleges and trade unions, we have been able to facilitate that pay offer for further education lecturers.”
“Further education is a critical part of our economic infrastructure, supporting people to achieve their potential and providing the skills needed for our businesses to grow. It is therefore important that further education lecturers are paid appropriately. The consolidated pay increases for lecturers were just 1% in both 2021-22 and 2022-23. When my predecessor came into post, he committed to work towards parity with teachers. On that basis, he facilitated an 11·2% pay agreement for further education lecturers in 2023-24. <BR /> <BR />I am also committed to working towards pay parity. I have therefore facilitated an offer of a 5·5% pay increase for further education lecturers for 2024-25, which aligns to the offer accepted by teachers.”
“I understand that a review of carer's leave is being undertaken in England as well, so, if it is introduced at a future point by the British Government, we will be able to follow suit here immediately.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We all recognise the importance of carers and the key role that they play in our society and in our economy. That is why we have stated that, in the first instance, we will introduce an unpaid entitlement of up to five days in a rolling 12-month period for those who have a caring responsibility for a relative or dependant. I have been clear that my desire is for that to be a paid entitlement, and my Department will take the legal powers to introduce a paid carer's leave entitlement. I have also been honest about the fact that we have challenging financial circumstances that everybody will be well rehearsed in, and it will be for the Executive to discuss whether that can be funded from our own resources.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to say that, while workers are generally entitled to the same framework of employment rights, regardless of employer size, there are some mitigations in respect of the proposals for smaller businesses in relation to what I have announced, for example, around the threshold for statutory trade union recognition. The reduction is from 21 employees to 10, which will exclude microbusinesses here. We will continue to work with businesses to support them in the implementation. Some of the feedback that we got during the consultation process related to ensuring that there is proper guidance and training in place to support businesses. We will work closely with the Labour Relations Agency to progress that as the Bill goes through the next stages of its process.”
“I thank the Member for his question. In recognition of the potential impact of the proposals, as he rightly pointed out, my Department carried out a series of impact assessments on the individual policies and the SAMBIT, which he mentioned. The assessments will continue to be reviewed as we develop our policies and legislation. As I have outlined on numerous occasions since we made the announcement about the proposals, it is my intention that we will phase the implementation of the proposals and work with businesses to support their implementation.”
“Meaningful discussion between my Department, employers and trade unions about the practical outworkings of the Bill is essential, if the planned changes are to have the desired positive effect. My officials have already reached out to key employer and trade union stakeholders following my announcement on 28 April, and I encourage them all to be as involved as possible in the next critical stage of the process.”
“Effective social dialogue between Governments, employers and trade unions is essential for advancing social justice, fostering inclusive economic development, improving wages and working conditions and supporting sustainable enterprises. A cornerstone of good governance and social dialogue creates the conditions necessary to achieve decent work for all, while promoting social peace, stability and effective labour market governance. The tripartite model of social dialogue is promoted by the International Labour Organization and is widely adopted internationally. <BR /> <BR />Engaging in and embedding the tripartite model of social dialogue across our economy is a key principle of my 'good jobs' agenda.”
“Following Executive agreement, my Department will engage formally with the Office of the Legislative Counsel (OLC) to draft the Bill. I intend to seek final Executive approval of the draft Bill towards the end of this year, with the hope of introducing it in the Assembly by January 2026. As the detail is refined, my Department will continue to engage with key stakeholders to ensure that the legislation operates effectively for workers and businesses.”
“My 'good jobs' employment rights Bill will deliver the biggest upgrade of our employment legislation since the Good Friday Agreement. It includes proposals to end exploitative zero-hours contracts; enhance protections for agency workers; end abuse of fire-and-rehire tactics; ensure that tips left to workers are passed on to them in full; modernise our trade union framework; make it easier to attain flexible working; and enhance rights to family-related leave, including the introduction of carer's leave, as well as neonatal leave and pay. I intend to deliver my proposals through primary and secondary legislation, statutory codes of practice and guidance. <BR /> <BR />The next step is for the Executive to agree the broad policy content of the Bill.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I said, I have engaged with my counterpart in the South to understand what the issues are in the delay that they made indications about. As I mentioned in my opening answer, the Northern section will be completed by 2028. There is an issue in respect of the investment in the grid, which NIE is progressing. It was granted a record investment of £2·2 billion under RP7, and it will work alongside the Department to ensure the roll-out of that project.”
“I do not agree with the Member about my comments, because I have been consistent on my party's position and the party has been consistent in its position that it would help secure community buy-in. Planning permission was granted by a previous Infrastructure Minister who was your party colleague. As Ministers, we are obliged to fulfil the commitments in respect of that planning consent.”
“My officials engage regularly on issues of cooperation between our energy supplies. Senior officials meet quarterly through a joint steering group to discuss oversight of the single electricity market (SEM) and areas that impact our respective energy strategies and climate change targets. The joint steering group is attended by senior officials from my Department, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), both regulators and representatives from the SEM committee.”
“I thank the Member for her question. As I mentioned, I met my counterpart, Minister O'Brien, last week. He took up his post in January. I will continue to engage with him on energy issues.”