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 Minister for that. Hopefully, we will get you in front of the Committee in the not too distant future. <BR /> <BR />Concerns have been expressed that the British Government's so-called levelling-up agenda bypasses the Assembly and the Executive and there is no guarantee that projects funded through it will align with our Programme for Government commitments or Executive priorities. It is my strong view — I imagine that the Finance Minister agrees — that, if the British Government actually wanted to level up our economy, they would return some of the hundreds of millions that have been stripped away from our block grant over the past decade. <BR /> <BR />Other Members mentioned health funding.”
“I hope that, in his new role, he will be honest enough to recognise the potential of the protocol in attracting investment, creating jobs and helping to drive forward the recovery from COVID that we need. We face the loss of EU funding, which, beyond this financial year, remains a huge concern, particularly in the context of the Economy Department's budget beyond 2023, when the ESF runs out. We need to see some longer-term clarity on the Shared Prosperity Fund, including its design and delivery.”
“<BR /> <BR />My party colleague Mr McHugh outlined the significant support in grants and rates holidays that have been made available to businesses here to help them to survive and to protect jobs. It is clear that we need a recovery that is about protecting jobs and creating jobs and opportunities and promotes greater equality and prosperity. That means promotion of greater health and well-being supports as well. It is important that our recovery plans and strategies aim to deliver on those things and align, as I said, with our Programme for Government commitments and New Decade, New Approach commitments. As other Members have referred to, we need to see really strong cross-departmental working and budgeting. <BR /> <BR />I congratulate the newly announced incoming Economy Minister on his appointment. I look forward to working with him.”
“Those have been well rehearsed throughout Budget debates. The British Government's Budget has in no way provided the stimulus that is needed to drive the recovery that we need. Members in the Chamber have made proposals and suggested things that should be included and that need to be included. Concerns also remain about at what point austerity measures will kick in. Those measures are contrary to the recommendations of financial institutions around the world. Some who previously championed austerity think that we need a stimulus-driven recovery to reboot the economy and to give businesses and workers the opportunity to get back on their feet collectively; that is widely accepted.”
“The Committee believes that the work of the high street task force and any funding that it deploys will need to be aligned with the economic recovery action plan and other strategies. That is why members are joining the Committee for the Executive Office and the Finance Committee on 16 June to receive a briefing on the work of the task force. <BR /> <BR />The Committee will play its part in the delivery and scrutiny of departmental strategies and legislation to support our recovery and rebuilding from COVID and in moving our economy to a place of greater prosperity for all our people. On behalf of the Economy Committee, I support the motion. <BR /> <BR />I will now make some brief remarks on behalf of Sinn Féin. I have already outlined many of the issues in respect of the Economy Department's budget.”
“Another key area of concern for members is the number of vacancies that the Department continues to carry. As a Department at the heart of the COVID response and the recovery and rebuilding of our economy, it is vital that it is properly staffed. Funding is available, so members strongly advocate that recruitment proceed at speed. <BR /> <BR />As I have outlined, the Committee welcomes the funding of the economic recovery action plan, as we are keen to ensure that the Executive fund the skills-related commitments included in it, in NDNA and in the 10X Economy papers, as well as those flowing from the energy and skills strategies, particularly the job-creating aspects of the green new deal.”
“As I indicated, however, the flexibility to reallocate internally is somewhat welcome in that context. <BR /> <BR />The Department has also flagged up £14·2 million of unallocated capital DEL that it hopes to utilise further into the financial year, thanks to increased flexibility. The Department is still waiting, however, for a capital DEL allocation of £42·3 million for Project Stratum and for capital DEL funding for city and regional growth deals, as well as for the Magee medical school. The Committee urges that the allocation of that very necessary capital DEL proceed without delay.”
“Committee members hope that that will mean less budget having to be returned and reallocated in haste, which was a theme last year in the Department for the Economy's COVID response. <BR /> <BR />The Department's bids of just under £12 million are modest in the context of the times in which we live. Committee members are concerned, however, that almost £11 million of that is required as a result of a change in the treatment of depreciation in FE colleges. The view of members is that that surely could have been anticipated. Of the £19·5 million of resource DEL reduced requirements, the Department has managed to reallocate £15·5 million, leaving £4 million to use against inescapable pressures that will arise in-year. Again, that level of movement in-year does not make scrutiny any easier for the Committee.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department has suggested that the economic recovery action plan, the recently published 10X Economy innovation paper and the trade and investment papers have the potential to be game changers for our economy. The Committee will, however, be looking for clear delivery on what remain very high level statements of intent. There are also issues around the securing of funding. <BR /> <BR />I will turn to the June monitoring round paper from the Department that the Committee considered at its previous meeting. Committee members welcomed the news that Departments will have greater flexibility to reallocate non-ring-fenced budgets in-year without Executive approval.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department has secured £23 million from the NIO: £8 million to support the development of Invest NI locations overseas over the next two years and £15 million for skills spread over the next three years. That funding is welcomed by the Committee and should help vital skills development work to be undertaken in the months ahead, as furlough ends and we seek to turn around our economy. <BR /> <BR />The Department leads on a range of New Decade, New Approach commitments, and the Committee believes that it is important that those be closely aligned with the Programme for Government and a range of other strategies, in both the Department for the Economy and other Departments. A failure to do that will run the risk of duplication or a failure to maximise the impact of spending.”
“The Department has received £12·2 million from the Treasury to manage protocol issues, which the Committee will scrutinise carefully. <BR /> <BR />The Executive have agreed to fund the economic recovery action plan at a cost of approximately £290 million of resource funding and £11 million of capital spending. Roughly half of the resource allocation for the economic recovery action plan will go on the high street stimulus scheme. That puts a lot of eggs in one basket, as I have said in previous contributions, and the Committee is not fully convinced that the voucher scheme will deliver to the degree that is necessary. As such, it will continue to engage with officials and the Minister on it.”
“Annual budgeting and a dramatic increase in the use of ministerial directions to implement COVID relief schemes is less than ideal, as is a heavy reliance on in-year allocations to meet essential spending, particularly in the case of the COVID response. Despite that, the Economy Committee has received regular Budget briefings from the Department, and members have engaged robustly with departmental officials and, indeed, the Minister, who briefed the Committee last month on her economic recovery action plan and the first of the 10X Economy papers, which referenced innovation. <BR /> <BR />The Department for the Economy budget has flatlined in 2021-22, which has resulted in the realignment of budget lines and the Department's beginning the financial year with an overcommitment of £7·3 million.”
“I will speak first as the Chair of the Economy Committee before making some brief remarks as the Sinn Féin economy spokesperson. You end up repeating yourself quite a bit in Budget debates, but we continue to live in exceptional times, which impacts very much on the budgeting process. Since I last spoke on the Budget at the end of May, the Economy Committee has received the Department's bids for the June monitoring round. The Committee considered those bids at its meeting last week, and I will comment on them following some more general remarks. <BR /> <BR />I have put it on record in previous debates that the context in which the Economy Committee and the other Statutory Committees scrutinise departmental budgets is less than ideal.”
“As the Minister who has responsibility for tourism and economic development and who leads Invest NI and, jointly, Tourism Ireland, does she agree that it is entirely inappropriate and disrespectful to her as Minister and to the Executive — in fact, it undermines the Executive and devolution — for the British Secretary of State to appoint someone without any consultation to a role that is mooted to be about promoting investment in tourism, which cuts directly across the work of the NI bureau and Invest NI in the States, with no oversight or input from the Executive?”
“— allocated to the Department of Health's budget to help alleviate some of its pressures.”
“It is unacceptable for the Economy Minister to ignore the opportunities that exist because it is politically uncomfortable for her to do so. <BR /> <BR />Points have been about the waiting lists, and it is really important that we have a renewed focus on them. I am really glad that £250 million of the COVID funding has been —”
“Last week, there was an announcement of further redundancies at Thompson Aero Seating, and that really highlights the importance of taking a sector-specific approach to the furlough scheme. It would be a strong signal if we could send a consistent message from the Executive and the Assembly that there needs to be a sector-specific approach taken to extending it. <BR /> <BR />I have a final point on the economic recovery action plan. A lack of priority is given in the plan to maximising our benefits under the protocol, such as our continued access to the European single market as well as to the British market. Last week, the Economy Minister published a trade and investment strategy. You have to scroll to page 10 of a13-page document to find any reference to that unique ability, yet it should be front and centre of our investment strategy.”
“<BR /> <BR />We will all agree that supporting research and development and innovation is a really important aspect of driving the creation of well-paid and secure jobs and encouraging entrepreneurship in communities for the benefit of communities. The focus of our recovery very much needs to be on sustaining and creating jobs and on giving people opportunities, particularly our young people. To that extent, I am glad that the Communities Minister was able to bring forward Job Start, which we all very much support. <BR /> <BR />I consistently raise in Budget debates, and Mr McHugh mentioned it earlier, that the furlough scheme is due to end in September.”
“I am sure that we can all get behind that. <BR /> <BR />Significant sums have been allocated to other economic recovery action plan priorities, such as skills, which I am sure that we all agree will be really important not just for the recovery but for creating a better economy that has a focus as much on well-being as on productivity. Last week, the British Government published some updated information on the Community Renewal Fund, the deadline for which is 18 June. The Finance Minister might be able to reflect on this, but there are some concerns around ensuring that what is funded through that process aligns with the Executive's priorities and the Programme for Government commitments. There are genuine concerns that there will not be proper oversight in that respect.”
“That overall allocation of almost £300 million breaks down into £20 million for research and development and innovation; £50 million for skills and an agile workforce; £20 million for a greener economy; and £200 million for trade, investment and exports. Over half of the total allocation — £145 million — is for the high street voucher scheme. The Economy Committee got a written update on that scheme last week, but some questions remain, including on its economic impact. As a policy tool for stimulating recovery, it is important that it deliver to the absolute maximum, and I am keen to continue to engage with the Department on how it will ensure that that is the case. It will almost certainly involve an initial focus on promoting uptake, but it will also be about buying locally and supporting local businesses.”
“No, I will not give way to you. <BR /> <BR />Despite the difficulties, I welcome the significant funding allocations for important items and schemes, including to address the economic recovery, to support young people into employment, to create new social housing and, really importantly, to tackle Department of Health problems such as waiting lists. As Sinn Féin economy spokesperson, I welcome the allocation of funding to extend business supports and for the rates holiday, both of which have been critical supports for businesses over the past 16 months. <BR /> <BR /> <BR />I also welcome the fact that funding has been allocated to the economic recovery action plan, which, as I reflected a fortnight ago, is critical for driving forward the recovery from COVID.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Budget and the Supply resolution. As the Minister outlined, and as has been reflected previously, this is a difficult Budget for the Executive as a whole, with many Departments facing more or less standstill budgets. It is a Budget that, despite some of the party politicking that we will undoubtedly hear, has been agreed by all Ministers in the Executive and was voted for by all parties in the Executive a fortnight ago. <BR /> <BR />Despite the difficulties, I welcome the significant funding allocations —”
“The Levelling Up Fund needs to be explored, notwithstanding the concerns that the Minister has outlined. Most people will take Tory promises about levelling up our economy with more than just a pinch of salt. Does the Minister agree that a good start to levelling up would be restoring the huge amount of funding that has been stripped from our block grant by the British Government over the past decade and giving it back to the Assembly and the Executive to decide where it goes so that it aligns with our priorities?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. This is yet another report that criticises academic selection and transfer tests. Although it refrains from making a determination on academic selection, in order to allow the independent review panel to deal with it, it makes important points about the mental health impact of transfer tests and the fact that they skew teaching at Key Stage 2. We need to be evidence-led when it comes to policy. If the independent review recommends ending transfer tests and academic selection, will the Minister act in accordance with that recommendation?”
“I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. A number of studies, including the 'State of Nature' report, the National Biodiversity Forum report and the 'Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland' report, have shown very worrying trends in our biodiversity. The 'State of Nature' report showed that 11% of species assessed were under threat of extinction on the island of Ireland. Will the Minister agree that we are experiencing a biodiversity crisis?”
“Is this not supposed to be a Budget debate?”
“However, if Members are not happy with how the Budget process is being taken forward, they can raise their concerns within their parties. We would all like to see a more dynamic process.”
“What engagement has the Minister had with Treasury about furlough, including on issues to do with the employer contributions that will be required later in the summer? There are going to be businesses that will not be in a position to meet those contributions, and redundancies are likely to follow. It is therefore important that we call for some sector-specific flexibility for the furlough scheme. <BR /> <BR />It is not often that I agree with Mr Frew in a Budget debate, but I had a sense of déjà vu as well when I listened to some Members' contributions. I remind the Members who criticised the Budget process that the approach of having a rollover Budget was agreed by Executive Ministers in October. We all agree that it is important to align PFG outcomes with budgets.”
“As we saw last year with the COVID support schemes, some flexibility is useful in allowing money to be moved to where it is needed. I ask the Minister to clarify what "at DFE's discretion" means and whether business cases will be approved for schemes being developed. <BR /> <BR />We have talked about the furlough scheme a number of times in Budget debates, and my colleague Maolíosa McHugh mentioned it today. The furlough scheme is due to end at the end of September. Undoubtedly, there will be businesses that will not be in a position to bring back all their employees. I have talked to some businesses, including businesses in the tourism sector that rely on international visitors. They are not looking at recovery in this year.”
“Contingency funding is also in place to mitigate the impacts of the protocol and departure from the EU. On behalf of the Committee, I support the motion. <BR /> <BR />I will now make a few remarks as Sinn Féin economy spokesperson. I will not repeat any of the detail that has been outlined. Beyond the standstill departmental budget, as has been described, funding has been allocated to deal with the outworkings of Brexit, and there have been significant allocations to the economic recovery action plan. That money, more than half of which is going to the high street voucher scheme, is going to be vital in supporting our economy in its recovery. As I have said, we need to hear more details about the voucher scheme as quickly as possible. When departmental officials briefed the Committee on the budget, they said:”
“The Committee will be watching the implementation of the scheme carefully, and members are heavily engaged with stakeholders to provide as much advice as possible. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has flagged its concern to the Department about funding being made available for schemes to reskill and upskill workers who cannot return to jobs once the furlough scheme has ended. The Executive must consider how support can be funded and put in place when that happens in the autumn. <BR /> <BR />In their recent briefings to the Committee, Department for the Economy officials have suggested that they are optimistic about the Department's budget situation for 2021-22. It is likely that the sizeable allocations beyond the Department's static baseline have encouraged that optimism.”
“Funding for those, and for other departmental strategies, will come from in-year allocations, and the Committee will want to see as much detail on those as possible. This is not a time for lack of transparency. <BR /> <BR />The high street stimulus voucher scheme, which I mentioned earlier, represents some £145 million of spending. That is roughly half of the economic recovery action plan's overall funding. It is therefore vital that the scheme be successful and that it provide the economic stimulus that is expected. Officials have briefed the Committee on the scheme, but there are many aspects of it on which specifics are still lacking, with elements of the policy still to be pinned down.”
“The Department and the Executive must ensure that the commitments in the economic recovery action plan, 'New Decade, New Approach' and the Programme for Government are closely aligned. Failure to align the work of all Departments runs the risk of duplication or failure to maximise the impact of spending. The economic recovery action plan highlights in particular the Department's key commitments on strategies for skills, energy and the economy more widely, as well as on further and higher education. The Department has suggested that the economic recovery action plan and the recently published 'A 10X Economy' have the potential to be game changers for our economy. The Committee will, however, be looking for clearer delivery on what are very high level statements of intent.”
“A key element of the Department's budgeting for 2021-22 is the economic recovery action plan, which the Executive have agreed to fund at a cost of approximately £290 million in resource funding, with £11 million of capital spend. Roughly half the resource allocation for the economic recovery action plan will go to the high street stimulus voucher scheme. I will comment on that later. <BR /> <BR />The Department has secured £23 million from the NIO, with £8 million of that to support the development of Invest NI locations overseas over the next two years and the other £15 million for skills, which is to be spread over the next three years. In addition to the economic recovery action plan, there is a range of New Decade, New Approach commitments that are relevant to the Economy Department.”
“Officials reassured the Committee that the overcommitment was manageable. The Department has also received £12·2 million from the Treasury to manage protocol issues, and the Committee will monitor that closely over the next few months as the impact of Brexit continues to unfold.”
“We continue to be in exceptional times with annual Budgets and a reliance on ministerial directions to implement COVID relief schemes. It is not an ideal context for a Committee to scrutinise a departmental budget effectively. However, the Economy Committee has received regular budget briefings from the Department. Over the past year, the Committee has had regular engagement with officials about budgeting. Most recently, on 12 May, the Economy Minister briefed the Committee about her spending plans in the economic recovery action plan and the 10X economic vision. <BR /> <BR />As with other Departments, the Economy budget has flatlined in 2021-22. That has resulted in the Department realigning budget lines and beginning the financial year with an overcommitment of £7·3 million.”
“I agree with its content, as I imagine that everyone here does, not least because a green new deal was a commitment in New Decade, New Approach.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. Last week, when that question was put to the Economy Minister about her 10X plan, we heard that it had not been endorsed by the Executive. The motion calls on the Executive to deliver, and it is important that we develop strategies on a cross-departmental basis, because recovery will be delivered by all Departments. <BR /> <BR />My final point is that, in my opinion, well-being should not just be part of the decision-making process; it needs to be measured. We all know that what gets measured gets managed, and we certainly need to ensure that our society is measured by more than its economic output. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, Sinn Féin will support the motion.”
“It should be one of the key pillars of our economic recovery strategy, but, given the plans that we have seen to date from the Economy Minister, I am not convinced that it is. Green recovery is mentioned, but there is a lack of detail on what it means, and it has no coordinated green new deal element.”
“Our economic recovery must also maximise our economic potential as part of the EU single market and an all-island economy, bringing jobs and investment to the North. Disappointingly, that has been lacking from any of the plans that have so far been brought forward by the Economy Minister. <BR /> <BR />In reference specifically to the motion, central to delivering a fair and just transition and recovery is a green new deal. A green new deal can bring together all the other aspects of economic recovery: creating jobs; providing skills and training opportunities; delivering better health and well-being outcomes through tackling fuel poverty, for example; more active transport; and more green spaces.”
“Our recovery must focus on protecting jobs and livelihoods in the hardest-hit sectors as well as on creating new jobs in sectors that will help to meet our climate obligations, as outlined in the motion, and create a more resilient economy and society. <BR /> <BR />We need to have a greater focus on community wealth and the social economy in order to ensure that our communities benefit and develop in tandem with the economy. During the pandemic, lots of people have been working remotely. That has benefits for work-life balance as well as for their local areas. Supporting that to continue can help to promote greater regional balance. One way of doing that would be to expand the regional hubs, which were announced by Minister Murphy, into the private sector. We should look at that.”
“I welcomed Deirdre Hargey's announcement last week of the upfront childcare grant to help people to get back to work. <BR /> <BR />Our young people have been very badly impacted by the pandemic and will need particular support. Sinn Féin wants a youth guarantee that means that every young person aged 16 to 24 has the opportunity to be in education, training or a job. I am very glad that the Job Start scheme has now opened, and I know that businesses in my own constituency of East Derry have already taken it up. <BR /> <BR />Businesses need to be supported to rebuild and recover. As Gary said, with so many businesses reopening, today is a great day.”
“Sinn Féin is committed to ensuring that ordinary people do not pay the price for the current crisis, and it will resist any attempts from the Tories to place the burden of the current crisis on the backs of ordinary, hard-working people. <BR /> <BR />Businesses, particularly our small businesses, need to be supported in order to sustain existing jobs and to create new jobs. We need to support workers and families. That means giving people opportunities to work in jobs that have decent pay and fair working conditions. Sinn Féin is committed to banning zero-hours contracts and to strengthening workers' protections in the workplace. We also need to remove barriers to work by ensuring that people have opportunities to gain skills, start their own businesses or have access to more affordable childcare.”
“I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate, and I thank the Members for tabling the motion. <BR /> <BR />The recovery from COVID needs to deliver a more fair and equal society and economy. It has been said many times in the Chamber and beyond that we cannot just return to where we were previously but that we need to build back better, as the saying goes. The imperative of tackling the climate emergency is clear, but it has to be done on the basis of a fair and just transition to decarbonisation. Those who can afford it least must not pay the most. The transition to a decarbonised society must be planned with workers, trade unions and communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee agreed the statutory rule (SR) at its meeting on 28 April 2021, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The rule will come into operation on 1 June. The Examiner of Statutory Rules has no issue with the rule, and I support the motion to confirm on the Committee's behalf. <BR /> <BR />I also support the motion as the economy spokesperson of Sinn Féin. The consequences of the pandemic are far-reaching and, in some ways, unforeseen. The SR could seem quite niche and technical. It allows the previous year's data to be used to certify CHP quality assurance schemes. It is temporary, but, as with other such SRs, we have acted to mitigate and limit the negative impacts of the pandemic and, therefore, are happy to support the motion.”
“I will speak briefly on behalf of the Committee for the Economy to support the motion. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister indicated, the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (NI) 2021 will ensure that certification for combined heat and power quality assurance schemes is not adversely impacted by COVID and allows for the changed demands of customers and the impact on heat and power ratios. <BR /> <BR />BEIS is implementing a minor legislative amendment to update the combined heat and power quality assurance standard by allowing operators to submit 2019 data. In order to maintain consistency of approach, a similar amendment to the Renewables Obligation Order (NI) 2009 is required, which will ensure that eligible operators here are not disadvantaged.”
“Our budgets are under ever-increasing pressure as a result of cuts to the block grant and, as has been described, the loss of European funding. Both of those, I might add, are the result of decisions that were taken in Britain. Will the Minister outline the medium- to long-term impact of the COVID pandemic on the Budget?”
“As you outlined, Minister, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the issues faced by the high streets. Do you agree that the targeted engagement that you outlined, which will be carried out through the subgroups and will ensure that we know what is needed to revitalise and regenerate high streets, particularly with regard to smaller towns and villages, is important?”
“The Examiner of Statutory Rules has no issue with the rule, and I support the motion to confirm it on the Committee's behalf. <BR /> <BR />I will speak briefly in my capacity as Sinn Féin economy spokesperson. As I have said a number of times and as the Minister has outlined again today, with the continued impact of the pandemic on our businesses, it is appropriate that the provisions are extended to support them in this difficult period.”
“I apologise to the Minister for missing the opening of her remarks. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Committee, I support the motion. As the Minister indicated, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Liability for Wrongful Trading) Regulations (NI) 2021 will further assist companies affected by the pandemic. The rule will restore provision in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 suspending directors' liability for wrongful trading and extending the operation of that provision until 30 June 2021. <BR /> <BR />The Committee agreed the statutory rule at its meeting on 14 April, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, and the rule came into operation on 29 April.”