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 think of those kids who get on to their parents about recycling, turning off the lights and walking instead of going in the car. Those young people will inherit the planet that we leave. As political leaders, we have to do not only what is politically expedient but what is right. Protecting our planet for future generations is the very least that we can do. I support the Bill.”
“We believe that the best and only way to effectively tackle the climate emergency is by working in partnership through informed debate and discussion that is designed with communities for communities. The type of climate action that we are talking about cannot be done to our communities. We must have maximum buy-in to the plans that are developed. That is the only way that they will be successful. That is the process that I want to be delivered through the ambitious, achievable and fair climate change legislation. That is what Sinn Féin will be working to ensure as the Bill progresses. <BR /> <BR />Finally, when I think about the climate emergency, I think of our young people. I think of those young people on the climate strikes who have been motivated to become activists by their desire to save our planet.”
“The climate office described in the Bill must have meaningful civic engagement as its modus operandi. The type of radical action that is needed to halt the catastrophic breakdown of our planet will mean change. It will require a major rethink of what prosperity means. The continuing pursuit of profit and capitalist models of consumption have greatly contributed to the climate breakdown that we face, but we have the power to make change if we act now. We have to be honest with people that change is necessary. We also have to empower our communities and provide reassurance and evidence that climate action will mean job creation and community renewal. We have to lead, and we have to manage change. <BR /> <BR />I will finish by, first, speaking directly to those who have concerns about what the Bill means for them. We are listening.”
“The development of the first climate action plan should be informed through the establishment of a just transition commission that involves all partners and representatives of all sections of our society and economy. I would like to see that expressly written into the Bill.”
“In fact, it is set out in the Paris agreement itself: national plans on climate change that include just transition measures with a centrality of decent work and quality jobs. A just transition must be based on social dialogue, as mentioned by Clare Bailey when she moved the Bill, and ensure the type of social interventions needed to secure workers' rights and livelihoods when economies shift to sustainable production to combat climate change and to protect our biodiversity.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is positive that the just transition principles are embedded in the Bill, and there are references in clause 3(8) to reducing inequality and eliminating poverty and social deprivation. I want to see it expressly written into the Bill that achieving the net zero target and the climate action plans must be based on the principles of just transition. It is important that we define what we mean by a just transition. At its simplest, it means that transition to net zero must happen in a fair way that leaves no one behind. A report for the OECD in 2017 stated:”
“The Bill creates a climate office and a climate commissioner. The Bill will establish the requirement for a climate action plan within three years of receiving Royal Assent and then every five years. The climate action plans would have to be approved by the Assembly, and those plans would be subject to public consultation. Nothing is being imposed or done in the scope of the Bill that will not be agreed by the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />There is scope for development to ensure that the Bill protects communities in achieving the ambitious targets that it sets out and the climate action plans that need to take account of our circumstances. A greater focus on transboundary impacts needs to be developed in the action plans. We are an island, and there needs to be proper account and cooperation across the island.”
“We must seek to positively transform people's lives, rapidly reducing emissions while creating good, decent-paying and secure jobs; delivering warmer homes through retrofitting; tackling fuel poverty; delivering healthier lifestyles and more efficient ways of moving around through investment in our active travel and public transport, world-class digital and physical infrastructure and an abundance of renewable and more affordable electricity from our wind and tidal resources. We must create opportunities for young people and those whose jobs will no longer exist in the way that they did. <BR /> <BR />The debate today is about the principles of the Bill. It is about moving the Bill forward to Committee Stage, where there will be opportunity for further scrutiny, input and consultation.”
“I have talked about our targets being ambitious: they must be achievable. We must be able to deliver on the targets. That will require investment in financial support for the communities impacted; in technology, research and development and innovation; and in support for businesses and entrepreneurship. It is investment that has the potential to pay off hugely for our local economy, and it must be seen as such. <BR /> <BR />In 'New Decade, New Approach', we also committed to a green new deal, which has to be core to our economic recovery from COVID.”
“As it stands, we are on our way to a 3° or 4° increase on pre-industrial temperatures, which will be catastrophic for our planet. Limiting temperature increase to 1·5° will be a significant challenge and will require radical action. <BR /> <BR />Every time I have spoken on the climate and biodiversity crises and the need for action, I have emphasised the need for the principles of just transition to be embedded in that action. Climate action has to be based on social justice. It has to be equitable. It has to empower communities. That must be the guiding principle of the climate action that we deliver through the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Let me assure all those who have expressed their concerns: I hear those concerns. We hear those concerns. The Bill is a hugely positive development, and it should be seen as an opportunity.”
“That means financially and in developing innovative practices and knowledge transfer to be the most sustainable that they can be. <BR /> <BR />It is not just by reducing our emissions that we will deliver on the greenhouse gas reduction required; it is by expanding our carbon sinks. Again, our farming and rural communities have much to contribute and must be supported in delivering afforestation programmes of native trees and hedgerow management that will not only act as carbon sinks but support and improve our biodiversity. Those things need to be part of the discussion and central to the action plans being developed. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin is completely committed to ambitious climate action: it is necessary. Inaction and half measures are not an option at this point.”
“Weather events that devastate land and crops; increased incidences of plant and animal pathogens, including new plant and animal diseases and pathogens being found to occur in regions where they did not occur previously; and altered growing seasons: all those things will impact on the profitability of our farmers and agri-food producers. Importantly, it also affects our food security and our ability to feed ourselves sustainably. Our farmers, like all communities, must be supported.”
“<BR /> <BR />Almost all the emails that I received expressing concerns about the Bill have been from our farming community, and they are genuine concerns. I am from a largely rural constituency. I am a former member and Chair of the AERA Committee. I worked for almost 15 years in agri-food research, and I worked alongside the industry. I know its importance. I have talked to farmers about climate change. Not only do they understand it, they want to play their part, and many already do so. They are the custodians of our land, and, given that 75% of land in the North is managed for agriculture, there is much that they will contribute in delivering the action that is needed. Our farming community is and will continue to be at the coalface of the impact of climate change.”
“<BR /> <BR />The progression of this Bill is an opportunity to have a really informed debate and discussion about the type of action that is required and how we plan to deliver on ambitious, fair and achievable decarbonisation targets together. We have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the Government in the South, who did not engage properly with the rural community and where there is some disillusionment with the actions that are being imposed or are seen as being imposed on communities there. Over the past couple of weeks, like every other MLA, I am sure, I have received dozens of emails both supporting and expressing concern about the Bill. I thank all those who have taken the time to correspond with me. There is no doubt that there is huge support for the Bill and for climate action.”
“A green new deal is not even mentioned, and, most worryingly, the proposals do not address the fact that we are an island and that these are all transboundary issues. It seems like the bare minimum, and given that the Minister has previously denied that there is a climate emergency, one can only surmise that that is why there is a complete lack of ambition in his proposals. It would have been much better if the Minister had chosen to work with the proposers of this Bill in a constructive way. Unfortunately, it seems that he has sought to undermine it rather than engaging, and the approach is somewhat disappointing, given that his office covers environment and rural communities also.”
“Unfortunately, despite it being a commitment in 'New Decade, New Approach' and the expressed will of the Assembly, the AERA Minister dragged his feet on taking the action necessary to bring forward climate legislation, and so the other parties collaborated with NGOs and activists to bring forward the Bill that we debate today. <BR /> <BR />Only then did the AERA Minister belatedly publish a discussion document to bring forward a Bill through his Department, and, disappointingly, those proposals could best be described as unambitious and somewhat leading in terms of how they were written. In that document, there is no serious discussion about how an Act would operate as an overarching framework to adhere to when creating legislation. Only basic lip service is paid to the idea of a just transition.”
“<BR /> <BR />The 2019 'State of Nature' report by RSPB outlined that 11% of species on the island of Ireland faced extinction. In the UK, 41% of species have declined since 1970, with 26% of species found in fewer places. That is the reality of what is happening around us and what will continue and worsen without action now. <BR /> <BR />In 2016, 197 parties signed up to the Paris Accord, a binding agreement that brings all nations into common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. More than five years on, we are the only part of these islands without specific climate legislation. In January 2020, in 'New Decade, New Approach', the parties committed to bringing forward a climate change Act.”
“Across the globe, there are some acute impacts being caused by climate change, including melting polar ice caps; increased ocean temperature and acidity; increased sea levels; deaths from weather events; droughts and famines; disease; more people being forced into climate refuge, as referenced by Mr Blair; and threats to global food security. The impact is also clearly being experienced locally, with more extreme weather events. Mr McAleer mentioned wind and flooding in his constituency, and my constituency was also impacted by the flooding in the Sperrins. We have also seen wildfires over the past couple of weeks in the Mournes. This year alone, we have had the driest and frostiest April and the coldest May Day on record.”
“I am really pleased to speak in this important debate. I commend those who have worked hard to progress the Bill, particularly Climate Coalition NI and the parties across the Assembly that have supported it to this stage. I am proud that my first motion of this term of the Assembly, when it was re-established last January, was to declare a climate emergency. We worked with the mover of the Bill and her party to table that motion. A collaborative approach is entirely the right approach and the only way that we can deal with the existential issue of our time. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that we face a climate emergency and a biodiversity crisis.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. I am sure that we would all like to see the challenges posed to businesses by Brexit resolved as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />A recent report from the Federation of Small Businesses in Britain showed that 10% of businesses surveyed were looking for warehousing space in the North. Last week, Manufacturing NI published a survey that showed that nearly half of businesses wanted the Executive to identify and secure new opportunities for them. Do you accept that there is a need for a coordinated strategy to support businesses in responding to the challenges that they face because of Brexit and also to maximise potential opportunities under the protocol?”
“I also want to ask about the high street voucher scheme, because half of the funding for economic recovery is going towards that scheme. We heard about it from officials at last week's Economy Committee meeting, but they were not able to confirm what the voucher could be spent on, where it could be spent or what its economic impact would be. Given what you have said, Minister, about the timescale for delivering it — at the end of the summer, hopefully — are you confident that it will be ready to be rolled out at that time?”
“Does the Member agree that it is important that we have ambitious targets, not just as part of our climate legislation but to inform all the other strategies and policies that are brought through by other Departments and to ensure that the targets that are set within those are ambitious as well?”
“It is important that we all remind ourselves to follow the public health advice and to support our local businesses. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Sinn Féin economy spokesperson, I note that, similar to previous SRs under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act, the extension of the date will give businesses some protection from the continued impact of the pandemic. It is sensible that we allow those provisions to be extended. Hopefully, we will continue on the positive trajectory that we are on. I pay tribute to all businesses and workers across the North for their efforts to reopen safely over the past couple of weeks. I have seen it in my constituency — in Coleraine, Portstewart and across Dungiven, where my constituency office is. The care and attention being taken is clear to see. It is recognised that we need to move forward carefully so that we do not end up going backwards again.”
“I rise briefly as Chair of the Economy Committee to support the motion on its behalf. As the Minister indicated, the amendment of certain relevant period regulations will further assist companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The regulations extend the duration of the temporary measures restricting the use of statutory demands and winding-up petitions introduced by the Act from the original date of the end of March 2021 until 30 June 2021. The Committee considered and approved the SL1 for the regulations at its meeting on 23 March. Members agreed the SR, subject to the Examiner's report, at the Committee's meeting on 14 April 2021. On behalf of the Committee, I support the motion to approve the regulation.”
“I thank the Minister for his response and concur with his comments. Given the crucial North/South aspect to tackling these fires and the many other cross-border issues relating to agriculture, the environment and our rural communities, will the Minister give his commitment to working cooperatively and collaboratively through the North/South institutions and, in particular, the North/South Ministerial Council on all issues within his remit that affect our communities, North and South, and that impact on an all-island basis?”
“I thank the Minister for his responses so far. Does he agree that the obvious solution for restoring the unfettered movement of goods from Britain to the North would be for the British Government to align with EU standards and regulations, for example on SPS matters?”
“This is on the issue of how the ending of selection will also end grammar schools and how the DUP is apparently very concerned about social mobility. I went to a grammar school — Loreto in Coleraine. That school abolished selection in 2013. That did not drag it down. It is still one of the top-performing schools in the North. That is because it is a good school, and that is what the focus should be on.”
“I thank the Minister for that comprehensive answer. I have been contacted by constituents who have children who require orthoses, and I have written to the Minister on a couple of occasions about one child in particular. Those constituents have found that the orthoses provided cause pain and injury to the children's little feet and have been forced to source alternatives, privately, which is expensive. As the Minister mentioned, children's feet grow. Will the Department commit to evaluating the quality of the paediatric orthoses provided to ensure that they are fit for purpose?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I want to return to the LRSS, because it has been an absolute lifeline for businesses, along with the rates holiday. You said that it will continue for businesses until they open. Are you keeping that under review, and are you encouraging the Economy Minister to look at other supports that might be needed to help businesses when we reopen?”
“I reiterate your point, but it also seems that there is a deafness from the other side of the House to acknowledging the impact of Brexit. We have seen the collapse in exports from Britain to Europe and financial institutions leaving London. Apparently, that is all the fault of the protocol.”
“As we come out of lockdown and move towards economic recovery, part of that recovery should be to build on the unique status that we have under the protocol. That is something that Invest NI has been promoting. I understand that there has been significant interest in relation to that within Invest NI, with at least 30 investors exploring opportunities here since the end of the transition period. Will the First Minister comment on that level of interest? Does she agree that we need to maximise opportunities under the protocol?”
“We need to stand against these plans and stop them in their tracks. Workers, families and businesses should not pay the price for Brexit. I urge all parties to support the motion and the amendment.”
“As I said, to my knowledge there have been no signals of retaliatory increases from EEA issuers, but it remains a possibility, so we are very happy to accept the amendment from the Alliance Party to explore cooperation with European Commission on this issue to remove unnecessary cross-border barriers. <BR /> <BR />This motion is about stopping the Brexit credit card rip-off and standing against the corporate greed of the two biggest card providers. This is a rip-off of ordinary people and hard-working businesses, which will line the pockets of big banks. We must not allow that to go ahead unchallenged. When the DUP and Brexiteers campaigned to take back control of their money, laws and borders, is this what they meant: people giving control of their money to corporate elites?”
“That means that only transactions that take place solely within the UK would be covered by the amended regulations, and cross-border payments between the UK and the EU would not. The practical impact of that is that payments made within the UK are covered by the UK regulations and payments made in the European Economic Area are covered by EU regulations, but cross-border payments between the UK and the EEA would not be subject to the caps. However, the explanatory memorandum states that it would technically be possible, within the British regulations, to mandate interchange fee caps that UK card issuers would be permitted to charge to international transactions. <BR /> <BR />We want the British Government and financial regulators to intervene to stop the increased fee charges.”
“While those costs are small on an individual basis, the charges will accumulate. <BR /> <BR />At the time that the interchange fee regulations were introduced in 2015, my party colleague Matt Carthy TD was an MEP in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in the European Parliament. He urged that the issue of cross-border transactions be included in any cap as it is particularly important in the Irish context, where we need to break down barriers to create an effective all-island economy. <BR /> <BR />In 2019, the Interchange Fee (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 were passed in Westminster. They reduced the scope of the application of the interchange fee regulations in British legislation from the European Economic Area to the UK.”
“Last week, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in the South reported that cross-border trade has grown significantly for the second month in a row when compared with the same time last year. <BR /> <BR />The all-island supply chains and growing the economy on an all-island basis are vital factors for the economic recovery of businesses across the island post-COVID and post-Brexit. Taking the tourism sector, which is a really important sector for our economy, last summer, all-island tourism flows were instrumental in mitigating some of the decline in overseas tourism due to the pandemic. The card charges announced would impact on businesses in the South with bookings from northern customers. If hoteliers and accommodation providers face increased costs for card bookings, it is very likely that those costs will be passed on to consumers.”
“For many of the small businesses and microbusinesses across the island, cross-border North/South trade is really important. For almost all businesses in the North that export, the South is one of the markets to which they export, and for 80% of microbusinesses in the North that export, their only export market is the South. Struggling small businesses and microbusinesses across the island do not need the barrier of increased cost as a result of corporate greed. <BR /> <BR />Cross-border trade continues to grow. According to InterTradeIreland's figures for 2018, it was worth £6·5 billion, with trade and services where online purchases with cards for bookings etc would come in was worth more than £3 billion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The increases in interchange fees could have an impact on those in border communities, including for the purchase of everyday items such as groceries, on a cross-border basis. While the interchange fee caps apply only to consumer cards and not commercial business cards, it is not uncommon for small businesses and microbusinesses to use consumer cards for online orders, so they could face increased costs when buying parts or goods from the EU. Our small businesses and microbusinesses in particular do not need that when they are already struggling to deal with COVID. <BR /> <BR />To date, I am not aware of reports of retaliatory charges from issuers in the European Economic Area (EEA) states, but that is certainly a possibility and would impact businesses here with the reverse of the sums outlined previously.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. Of course, I opposed Brexit, which is the reason that we have the protocol in the first place. Those who campaigned for Brexit need to own its consequences. <BR /> <BR />The increases — sorry: I have lost my place. If that goes ahead, undoubtedly, those charges, which affect all online purchases, will eventually be passed on to customers. Obviously, as well as the impact generally on purchases from the EU, there is a particular North/South dimension to this. It could see increased costs being passed on to people in the North for purchases from the South. Orders of goods across the island are regularly made through card transactions. While the protocol protects the trade of goods across the island, it does not cover services, and that is a service charge.”
“Therefore, the costs will be greater still. If this goes —.”
“When the EU regulation was put into domestic law in 2015, the rationale for intervention included estimates from the British Retail Consortium that the price cap could be of benefit to UK retailers by £480 million per year, with respondents to the consultation estimating savings, a gain, to businesses more widely, in the region of £700 million per year. Again, that includes the domestic caps. <BR /> <BR />Therefore, it makes sense to believe that the converse is also true: if the interchange fee goes up, the costs will be passed back to consumers. When MasterCard's announcement was made, estimates put the costs to EU-based businesses selling goods to UK customers at over £14 million per year. However, the Visa announcement is even more significant because Visa is the biggest card issuer, with around 73% of the market.”
“<BR /> <BR />In 2020, the European Commission's report on the application of the interchange fee regulation highlighted that, in 2017, there had been 70 billion card-based transactions in the EU. That is likely to have increased as COVID-19 accelerated trends towards contactless and electronic payments. As a result of the interchange fee regulation, there have been more than €2·6 billion of savings, with merchants — businesses such as retailers — having saved costs in the range of €1·2 billion per year — obviously, that also includes the domestic caps — part of which would eventually pass to consumers through lower retail prices or improved services.”
“In March, Visa followed suit, announcing that it, too, would increase its interchange fees by around 475%. They can do so simply because we are no longer in the EU and the EU interchange fee regulation no longer applies. The regulation has applied in the EU since 2015. When it was introduced, the move at its core was to align fees across the internal market in order to remove barriers to the freedom to provide services. With respect to the interchange fees and different rates, it was outlined in the regulation that merchants, in turn, would incorporate card costs, like all other costs, in the general prices of goods and services, and that regulating the fees would improve the functioning of the internal market and contribute to reducing transaction costs for consumers.”
“I rise to move the motion and also indicate that my party will happily accept the Alliance Party's amendment. <BR /> <BR />The motion highlights one of the more hidden impacts and costs of Brexit. Those who campaigned so vociferously for Brexit were often quick to point to EU regulation and bureaucracy. They argued to "Take back control". However, in reality, on this issue, it is corporate elites who are in control and big financial institutions that will be the beneficiaries. Card issuers are cynically exploiting Brexit in a move that would see more money go to big banks while ordinary people and small businesses pay the price. <BR /> <BR />In January, only a few weeks after the end of the transition period, MasterCard announced that it would hike by 500% the transaction fees on UK-issued cards making purchases from EU-based companies.”
“In the context of the new energy strategy, have you considered an additional duty to promote decarbonisation? Investment will obviously be required in renewable energy, and that is absolutely imperative to decarbonisation.”
“Minister, you will be aware that, amongst other things, one of the statutory objectives of the Utility Regulator is to protect the long-term and short-term interests of consumers.”
“— and that we encourage farmers to do these types of schemes on their land and, as you have referred to, that we reward them appropriately.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. I am sure that the Minister agrees that we need to be ambitious about what we do to reduce our carbon footprint and that the role of carbon sequestration and an understanding of that role are really important to the public discourse on this when it comes to recognising farmers' support of the environment. I am sure that the Minister also agrees that we need to ensure that there is adequate knowledge transfer —”
“Does the Minister agree that, in light of his recently published proposals for a climate change Bill and the green growth framework, it is inappropriate to proceed with further investment in fossil fuels rather than focusing on meeting our renewable targets?”