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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“As I said in my initial answer, EirGrid has indicated that there are delays in processing land access and actual construction time. We have engaged with the Department in the South to understand what it is doing to try to reduce that extension, because there is a need to progress the North/South interconnector if we are to be able to meet our statutory obligations under the Climate Change Act 2022 and other targets. That Department has work to do to make that happen.”
“The Northern section is expected to be delivered by 2028. The completion date for the Southern section has been revised from 2028 to 2031. EirGrid, the system operator in the South, has advised that that is due to delays in processing land access and actual construction time. Last week, I met Minister O’Brien, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Energy in the South, to discuss the issue. During that meeting, I set out my party’s position that the interconnector should be undergrounded.”
“The North/South interconnector project is essential in order to deliver an affordable and renewable energy system across the island. It is estimated that the cost to local electricity consumers due to the absence of the interconnector is £19 million per year. The interconnector will enable an additional 900 MW of clean electricity into the North’s transmission system and reduce levels of "dispatch down". <BR /> <BR />Reliance on a single North/South interconnector means that the North’s power system has a single point of failure. A second interconnector will strengthen security of supply. I have been consistent in my position that the North/South interconnector should be undergrounded. In the North, on 14 September 2020, the then Infrastructure Minister granted planning permission for the interconnector.”
“Yes. With respect to renewable heat in the domestic sector, the Department consulted recently on future support of low-carbon technology in residential properties. That consultation closed on 10 January. The views that were provided will support the Department in the development of policy to inform options regarding the design of and rules and guidance on future support for low-carbon heat, which will include energy-efficient technologies, such as heat pumps. In the non-domestic sector, the Department's focus is on closing the non-domestic RHI scheme in advance of Ofgem's departure.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I cannot give a precise time frame for approval of the business case. My Department is working at pace with the Department of Finance on progressing that. I am sure that the Member will agree that it is important that that is done appropriately. With the support of the Executive, it is my intention to introduce legislation before summer recess.”
“A consultation will then be launched on the draft regulations that will give effect to the closure arrangements.”
“I am committed to a closure arrangement that will ensure fairness to people who entered and participated in the scheme in good faith and, at the same time, achieve fairness and value for money for the public purse. A business case for the closure of the scheme is with the Department of Finance. Subject to the approval of the Department of Finance, Treasury and the Executive, the Department intends to close the scheme through primary legislation, which will provide the powers for the Department to bring forward the closure regulations. Subordinate legislation — regulations — setting out the detail of the closure arrangements will then be subject to consultation. The Department continues to engage with key stakeholders on the design and details of the closure of the scheme, and a proposal will be brought to the Executive for agreement.”
“On 30 July, the then Economy Minister announced that the Executive had reaffirmed their commitment to close the non-domestic RHI scheme. That was consistent with the aim in 'New Decade, New Approach' in 2020:”
“<BR /> <BR />On zero-hours contracts specifically, under the proposals that I have set out, we will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts so that, where a worker has regular hours on a regular basis, they will be entitled to a banded hours contract, but there will be exceptions for genuinely casual and seasonal work. Even in that instance, we are taking steps, for example, to ban the exclusivity clauses that can be in place here. We have tried to strike a balance between ensuring that workers' rights are protected and recognising the case that has been made to us that there are genuine circumstances in which such contracts can be useful to employers and workers.”
“The research was conducted before the proposals for the 'good jobs' Bill were published. It is important to recognise that good jobs benefit everybody in our economy and that evidence clearly demonstrates that employers benefit from having a more productive and engaged workforce. There is a clear need to modernise our employment rights framework, and that is what we are doing. One reason for modernising is so that the good employers that we all know in our constituencies are not at a competitive disadvantage compared with those who do not treat their workers fairly.”
“I will also work in partnership and collaboration with businesses to design supports and interventions that are under our control in order to support them to create jobs and a strong and thriving economy.”
“I have made my position clear on the issue. The Executive do not have the financial capability to mitigate the decisions taken at Westminster that have a direct, detrimental impact not just on businesses but on people here. As I said, we already provide a range of supports to businesses, and we are looking at how those can be utilised to support businesses to grow, thrive and create jobs, but there is no escaping the reality that decisions taken by the British Government have a detrimental impact here and that the Executive are not in a position to fully mitigate all those decisions. That is just the reality. <BR /> <BR />I will continue to work hard with and on behalf of businesses in my representations to the Treasury.”
“I thank the Member for his question, which is about something that is reflected to many of us in our conversations with businesses. I met the Infrastructure Minister last week to discuss that issue in particular. She highlighted a range of initiatives that her Department is taking to improve and speed up the planning process. We all recognise that there are resource challenges — what we can do with the Budget that we have — but steps can be taken, and she clearly reflected her commitment to do that.”
“I fully support the Minister of Finance in making that case and want to see a reduction in our VAT rate to support our hospitality sector so that it is able to compete in the all-island economy.”
“Yes. You are quite right that that is highlighted. I am sure that that issue has been reflected to many of us by businesses in our constituencies, particularly those in border areas that are competing directly with businesses in the South. <BR /> <BR />The Minister of Finance has asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to consider what support or mitigations can be put in place for all impacted sectors, especially those here in the North, where, as the research shows, the impacts will be felt more significantly. The Minister also asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, given the disparity in VAT rates, North and South, to consider what steps the Westminster Government can take, or supports they can offer, using their powers over VAT, to help our hospitality businesses to operate on a level playing field with those in the South.”
“All those things are important for improving competitiveness, but we will continue to make the case to the British Treasury to consider the decisions that it can make that directly impact on businesses here.”
“I thank the Member for his question and for highlighting that particular issue and the challenges facing businesses here. We all very much recognise those challenges. The Member will know — I have rehearsed this answer on a number of occasions — that the Executive do not have the financial capability to mitigate bad decisions that are taken at Westminster that have a direct detrimental impact on businesses and people here. Alongside our partner organisations, my Department provides a range of supports for businesses to help them become more competitive, through energy efficiency, innovation, skills and support for exploring new markets.”
“My colleague the Minister of Finance continues to urge the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to reduce the cost of doing business in the North. I will continue to support the Minister of Finance and advocate alongside him at every opportunity.”
“In my previous role as Finance Minister, I commissioned the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre to examine the cost of doing business in the North. That research was published last week. It highlights the range of cost challenges that employers have faced in recent years, including those resulting from the COVID pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine. The challenges have been worsened by the British Government’s autumn statement, which increased employers' National Insurance contributions. The hospitality sector here, which is subject to a level of VAT that is higher than that in the South, has been particularly impacted on by the autumn statement. The research provides a firm evidence base that will be used to make the case to the Treasury to act.”
“Brexit created barriers for businesses here and in Britain. They face significant challenges in their trade that are reflected in the export statistics, where we well outperform Britain. We have seen enhanced trade across the island, both North to South and South to North, over the past number of years following the introduction of the protocol. That is just a matter of fact.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I said to Mr McNulty, over the past 25 years, we have seen enhanced trade across the island, and that has developed further since the introduction of the protocol.”
“I thank the Member for his question, and I agree with the sentiment behind it. When you look at the huge increases that there have been in cross-border trade over the 25 years since its inception, you see that InterTradeIreland has been successful. It is well placed to support businesses and the development of the all-island economy, and that is something that I am certainly happy to work with it on.”
“I thank the Member for her question. As well as some of the work that I have already referred to, InterTradeIreland will seek to take forward its ambitious plans, such as an economic policy forum, and to continue to build on the success of the trade hub. It will also look to develop and undertake further research programmes, some of which I mentioned to Mr Honeyford, including on offshore wind and hydrogen, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, services, trade and sectoral ecosystem research. InterTradeIreland is coming to the end of its current business plan and will be developing its corporate plans for 2026-28, so that work will be going on over the course of this year as well.”
“I thank the Member for the question. That is an area of work that I am particularly excited about. We have a lot of work to do in encouraging female entrepreneurship and closing the gap in their ability to access support and, importantly, finance. InterTradeIreland undertook pilot programmes in 2024, and €8 million in the Shared Island enterprise scheme is targeted at female entrepreneurship. We heard from two female entrepreneurs — academics, actually — who benefited as participants of some of the pilot programmes, and their testimony to the effectiveness of those programmes was quite something. InterTradeIreland is evaluating the pilot programmes with a view to rolling out further programmes in the coming year. There will be more announcements and more to talk about in relation to that in the near future.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I am not sure that I have in front of me the detail that she asks for, but I am happy to share that with her. As the Member will be aware, the Assembly was not sitting for a number of years and that held up the process in some of the laying of accounts. That is why we have a bit of a backlog there. That is being addressed, and we are moving through various accounts for different North/South bodies being laid as required.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The concept of clustering is based on the idea that companies benefit from mutual support, knowledge exchange and innovation, which, ultimately, enhances the competitiveness of the members of the cluster. InterTradeIreland has an important role in exploring future cross-border opportunities, as I just mentioned to Mr Honeyford. A number of areas of the economy have the potential to be further developed on an all-island basis, and InterTradeIreland is well placed to support that work. Clustering can support businesses in becoming more innovative and more productive, which very much aligns with the principles of my economic vision.”
“I thank the Member for his question. At the NSMC, research that had been undertaken by Everoze on the potential for offshore wind was presented to us. InterTradeIreland will put an increasing focus on that over the current year. It will look at further research programmes in renewables, including offshore wind and hydrogen. There is potential across the island. As the Member will know, InterTradeIreland is also responsible for the delivery of cluster funding that is coming via the Shared Island enterprise scheme. There are opportunities in that work to look at how we, as an island, can maximise the potential in the renewable sector.”
“I thank the Member for her question. InterTradeIreland's confirmed programmes and key activities in the 2023-25 corporate plan are not only relevant but key to the assistance that cross-border SMEs need to grow. InterTradeIreland continues to make a valuable contribution through its trade and development programmes for small and medium-sized companies that are trading across the border and in both jurisdictions, as I have reflected in comments to other Members. InterTradeIreland plays a role in helping businesses from here take the first step in exporting and in developing their supply chains across the island to maximise the benefits of dual market access and is particularly well placed to do that. It also has a key role in supporting our understanding of the impact of tariffs and our response to that.”
“As Minister, I will continue to work on that.”
“It is undeniable that we have an all-island economy. We have highly integrated supply chains across the island, which was significantly recognised in the negotiations that led to the protocol and, then, the Windsor framework. There is a huge potential benefit for us through the ability to localise our supply chains. Particularly at a time of global uncertainty, we should look to understand where our supply chains are and how we can support businesses to develop them. <BR /> <BR />I have no regrets about championing the North's economy, the all-island economy and the need to recognise that we have highly integrated supply chains across this island and North/South trade that must be protected. I equally recognise that our trade with Britain is really important, which is why we need to minimise frictions North/South and east-west.”
“<BR /> <BR />Dual market access is a significant driver for our local economy, and InterTradeIreland and Invest NI obviously have a role to play in helping to support businesses to maximise the potential opportunities. That was discussed and raised.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Yes, both issues were discussed. The agenda had been agreed in advance of the tariffs issue, and the issue was strongly reflected in my comments, with our concerns about the potential impact of tariffs on the island as a whole and the North specifically. I have established a tariff working group, of which the Member will be aware and on which InterTradeIreland is represented, and will be engaging with InterTradeIreland and Ministers in the South, as I am with British Ministers on tariffs and on understanding what the potential impacts and implications are as the situation continues to develop over the next number of weeks.”
“Ministers welcomed the presentation by Everoze on offshore wind and hydrogen opportunities on the island of Ireland and noted the opportunities available through joint working to deliver mutual benefits in line with the economic and decarbonisation strategies of both jurisdictions. <BR /> <BR />The Council agreed to hold its next NSMC trade and business development meeting in November 2025. <BR /> <BR />I commend the statement to the Assembly and welcome questions.”
“The Council approved the InterTradeIreland 2025 business plan and recommended the budget/grant provision. The NSMC noted InterTradeIreland’s annual report and accounts for 2022, which have been certified by the Comptrollers and Auditors General (C&AG) and laid before the Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas. The annual report and accounts for 2023 will be laid shortly. <BR /> <BR />Ministers noted the work taken forward by InterTradeIreland as it leads on the women’s entrepreneurship element of the Shared Island enterprise scheme. The Council welcomed the presentations from entrepreneurs who have benefited from the supports provided by the women’s entrepreneurship pilot programmes. The NSMC appointed a board member to the board of the trade and business development body, InterTradeIreland.”
“The NSMC noted that InterTradeIreland is leading on the delivery of the women’s entrepreneurship and clustering strands of the Shared Island enterprise scheme with the launch of eight pilot programmes for women entrepreneurs in 2024. <BR /> <BR />Planning is also under way for TCI Global — The Competitiveness Institute — cluster conference in Dublin in October 2025. The Council noted that InterTradeIreland hosted a successful venture capital conference in Dublin in March 2025 for almost 900 attendees, which highlighted current sources of equity funding and provided a collaborative environment for innovation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers acknowledged the valuable support that InterTradeIreland has provided for small and medium-sized companies through its trade and development programmes, such as the Acumen programme, Go-2-Tender programme and the advice and support provided through its Trade Hub. <BR /> <BR />The Council recognised the positive impact of the innovation and technology programmes administered by InterTradeIreland, such as the collaborative innovation pathway, which has provided support to over 900 SMEs. Ministers noted InterTradeIreland’s ongoing research work, which includes the recently launched report, 'The changing nature of trade on the island of Ireland', and the completed research into the business development ecosystem.”
“I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in trade and business development sectoral format, which was held in Armagh on 16 April 2025. Minister Gordon Lyons MLA and I represented the Executive, and I chaired the meeting. The Irish Government were represented by Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. The statement has been agreed with Minister Lyons, and I am making it on behalf of us both. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC welcomed the overall achievements of InterTradeIreland since the previous sectoral meeting in October 2024, including achieving a business development value of £115 million in 2024, which is well in excess of its target.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It is something that we are doing. The Department is engaging, as you would expect, with all relevant partners in the sector and collating information so that we have a case to make when we are in discussions with the Home Office. As I said, I am hopeful that we will meet with the relevant Minister in the near future. I will continue to highlight the challenges that the sector faces here. In the immediate term, although there have been concerns about the potential impact, we are now beginning to see the actual impact and things that are being reported. As the Member rightly said, it is important to collate that information, and we are doing that.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It was not something that came up as part of the discussions at the meeting. I am sure that the Member could write to me and ask for some of that information, and I would be happy to provide it.”
“We will make as strong a case as we possibly can. It is our job and my job, as Economy Minister for the North, to champion issues on behalf of our businesses, and I will continue to do that.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I recognise the challenges that he has outlined. When I speak to businesses, they express similar concerns. As he will know, when I was Finance Minister, I initiated a cost of doing business research project, which I anticipate will be published in the near future. Part of the rationale for initiating that research was to have an evidential base on which to engage with the British Treasury in respect of the issues that are being reflected to us every day as local representatives. <BR /> <BR />As part of the upcoming spending review, there is an opportunity to make that case again. We are dealing with the British Treasury, and I do not think that any of us in the Chamber agree with some of the decisions that it has made in recent months. We have to bear that in mind.”
“The review will consider staffing levels, structure, locations and the skills base of the teams. It is important to note that any recommendations in relation to the outcome of that review will come back to the NSMC for approval if they fall under its remit.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The changes to the memorandum and articles of association in the constitution were in line with Irish company law, as they had not been updated since Tourism Ireland's inception. The impact of that is purely administrative, such as updating the names of relevant organisations where they had changed. For example, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board changed to Tourism NI. It was changes like that. The only operational impact relates to how the board meetings can be called or held to allow for electronic notification and for meetings to be held by video or online. <BR /> <BR />The capacity review aims to evaluate and enhance the current operational structure, resources, capabilities and effectiveness of Tourism Ireland.”
“In 2023, spend by overseas visitors to the North had reached £672 million, demonstrating recovery compared with 2019, pre COVID, of 15%. <BR /> <BR />The majority of tourism spend in the North is sourced from incoming overseas visitors, at about 56%. Of the 70,000 tourism jobs across the North, around six out of 10 depend on overseas tourism. Tourism is one of the largest shared indigenous industries across the island. With 70% of tourism jobs outside Belfast or Dublin, it is a crucial economic driver for our rural communities.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Tourism here and across the island has grown substantially in recent years, and there is considerable potential for further growth. As I mentioned already, Tourism Ireland is targeting an average of 5·6% revenue growth for overseas tourism year-on-year to 2030 and, specifically for the North, a target of 6·5% year-on-year growth. With ambitions for the longer term, Tourism Ireland envisages that it can double overseas tourism, specifically to the North, to £1·3 billion by 2035. <BR /> <BR />The year 2025 will be a really important one for golf, with the Open taking place at Portrush this summer, bringing thousands of visitors and showcasing our beautiful landscape to 500 million households across 150 countries. Partnerships to promote the destination at scale overseas are under way with the media.”
“I thank the Member for his question. That is a focus that is being brought by Tourism Ireland in its work, and there is significant interest from consumers, as you would expect, when they are making their plans to travel, in looking at the potential impact on the environment. More and more people are trying to assess that as they are making their plans. That is also reflected in the tourism vision and action plan that the Department has brought forward and developed in partnership with the industry here in the North. I am happy to write to the Member with some more detail on the specific actions in that plan.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Obviously, we only became aware last week that, unfortunately, the National Trust did not feel that it could continue with the project. It will be for councils, in the first instance, to bring forward other proposals and to work as part of the Belfast region city deal group to bring forward proposals as to how to utilise the funding that is available to it. As a Department, we will support the group in those efforts.”
“Tourism Ireland will continue to focus on higher revenue per carbon markets, with a commitment to more sustainable tourism supported by a dedicated slow tourism, environmentally friendly itinerary.”
“I thank the Member for the question. The business plan has been completed in accordance with agreed guidance issued by both Departments with responsibility for public expenditure. The business plan focuses on increasing the value of overseas tourism to Ireland by 5·6% per year on average over the next six years until 2030. Within that, there is an enhanced target of 6·5% revenue growth on average each year for the North specifically, and that recognises the upward potential ahead. Sustainability remains at the heart of the business plan for 2025, with a focus on sustainably supporting economies, communities and the environment whilst inspiring visitors to come to the island.”
“That is an issue that I have expressed real concern over, and there is potential for the South to reduce its VAT further. That is concerning to those in the hospitality and tourism sectors, so we have made representations to the British Government, and I have engaged with colleagues on the impact on a North/South basis. I, along with the Finance Minister, will keep that issue on the agenda, and it was reflected very strongly by the business community. I met some tourism providers in Fermanagh, and it was a key concern that they expressed, so I will continue to raise that issue in all my engagements.”