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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“We also need to see the flexibilities that have been agreed to being fully used. The British Government, for example, need to provide access to their data and information where they are required. <BR /> <BR />Businesses have been clear that they want and need stability and clarity and as much simplification of processes as possible, so our focus should be on working to achieve those and on dealing with some of the issues that have not yet been resolved, including data and the recognition of professional qualifications, in order to help the smoother operation of business across these islands.”
“Where there have been issues with the operation and implementation of the protocol, we have seen solutions through the efforts and willingness of business representatives and political and diplomatic efforts to find flexibilities and solutions. Efforts need to continue to find those, because, despite the protestations of Members opposite and others, the protocol is here to stay. It was negotiated and agreed by the British Government, and, over the past couple of weeks, we have heard commitments again and again to its proper implementation reiterated by the British Government and the European Commission. <BR /> <BR />We need to see the mechanisms of the protocol properly utilised. The Specialised Committee and the joint consultative working group are the bodies that are meant to be used to deal with any issues arising from the protocol.”
“Some local businesses have availed themselves of new opportunities to sell products locally because of issues with supply coming from Britain due to that lack of preparation. It is a positive thing for those businesses to fill those voids. Others have quickly reoriented supply chains locally or to the EU. Last week, a Manufacturing NI survey indicated that a quarter of businesses have already done that. Again, that is benefiting suppliers here.”
“<BR /> <BR />Undoubtedly, challenges have been faced by businesses since the beginning of this year. No one denies that. It was inevitable that a major change in trading relationships would result in difficulties, and this, of course, was compounded by the lateness in reaching the trade and cooperation agreement, which gave businesses only a week to prepare for the new arrangements. It has been well-rehearsed but is worth repeating that a lot of the difficulties around the supply of goods to the North were due to the lack of preparedness of British businesses. That needs to be addressed by the British Government and agencies. <BR /> <BR />Businesses here have been responding to the new arrangements.”
“Sorry, I have a lot to get through. <BR /> <BR />In 2018, cross-border trade was worth €7·3 billion. Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in the South, which are available in advance of NISRA's, show that South to North trade increased by 6·9% in 2019. These are positive trends that we should continue to build on, and we can do so because of the special status afforded to the North by the protocol, which gives us continuing access to the EU single market. InterTradeIreland has had considerable contact over the past six weeks, with queries about how to develop supply chains across the island, opportunities to trade and how to have a presence North and South. Invest NI also reports interest being shown by businesses that want to take advantage of the ability to sell to both Britain and the EU.”
“Sales to the EU were up 20·9%. More businesses trade North/South than with Britain. North/South trade has been increasing by about 4% year-on-year for the past 20 years.”
“The motion outlines, and I have said repeatedly in the Chamber and elsewhere, that the ability to trade across these islands is vital to our local economy, North/South and east-west. It is interlinked, and across this, our highly integrated supply chains underpin much of our trade to Britain and elsewhere. <BR /> <BR />However, it is important to put some facts on the record because we are told repeatedly in the Chamber, including by the Economy Minister, that we sell more to Britain than to everywhere else combined. That is no longer true. In 2018, according to the latest data that we have, NISRA statistics show that sales to Britain were worth £10·6 billion — down 9·3% on the previous year. Total sales to the South, the rest of the EU and the rest of the world under EU trade agreements were worth £11·2 billion — up 8·1%.”
“I welcome the opportunity to move this motion today. It is important to discuss and debate the new trading reality that we now face and that our businesses have to deal with because of Brexit. For four and a half years, businesses and everyone else here have had to deal with uncertainty and lack of clarity around the trading arrangements that would result once the negotiations and transition period ended. This motion is about trade, so most of my remarks will refer to businesses, but, equally, our community and voluntary organisations, young people, farmers and rural communities have all faced the same uncertainty. It is now past time that we had some stability and certainty. Businesses and their representatives have been very clear that they want clarity.”
“Does the First Minister agree with me that the Executive should develop an overarching economic strategy to maximise the benefits from our continued access to the European single market and its 450 million consumers?”
“They need to show that they are serious about collective leadership and responsibility by contributing to the development of the recovery strategy and then driving it forward. "Building back better" cannot be just an aspiration or a slogan. It needs to be delivered on, and that means having a strategy that is not just a document on a shelf but the active work of the Programme of Government for all Ministers and all Departments.”
“<BR /> <BR />There needs to be a real conversation about the financial and borrowing tools that the Executive need to be able to deliver on economic recovery. Those four principles are the basis of a strategy that should be delivered across the Executive: a strategy that aligns our Programme for Government with all Ministers and all Departments working to deliver on their important roles within it. That is the approach that is envisaged through the outcomes-based Programme for Government, which is focused on indicators that do not fall neatly into departmental boxes. It is about adopting an approach that breaks down departmental silos and ensures better outcomes for all our citizens. <BR /> <BR />All the Executive parties need to pull their weight.”
“It is based on four key principles: supporting workers and their families, including through ensuring that we deliver on the protections for workers committed to in New Decade, New Approach; supporting businesses to create and sustain jobs through skills programmes, start-up supports and the infrastructure to support local recovery across the North; delivering on a just transition to a net zero-carbon society, because, as we move away from a reliance on fossil fuels, we need to ensure that those who can afford it least are not left to foot the bill; and, finally, giving the Executive the financial tools to deliver on recovery, because being at the whim of a Tory Chancellor who delivers funding for COVID supports in dribs and drabs and who failed to live up to the commitment to have multi-annual Budgets is not the way in which to plan for economic recovery.”
“None of those things will be done in isolation. That is why our amendment calls on the Executive to develop a comprehensive recovery and investment strategy. <BR /> <BR />The pandemic has shone a bright light on many inequalities and structural problems, and particularly on the importance of our public services, which have been decimated by a decade of Tory austerity. It has also highlighted the real essential workers, and we need to remember that as we plan the way forward. Sinn Féin published its economic recovery strategy back in June last year.”
“We need to ensure that our recovery from COVID-19 seriously addresses the threats from the climate and biodiversity crises. We need to have a holistic approach that cuts across all Departments in order to deliver a jobs-led recovery. We need skills and employability programmes and entrepreneur supports that build on the new ways of working that we have had to adopt and that we accept being accelerated throughout the pandemic. We need to create a more regionally balanced economy, in which our towns, villages and cities are more suited to contemporary working, living and socialising, with infrastructure to support modern living, which is increasingly digital and online. We need a transport network that meets the needs of our rural and urban communities and that delivers on our decarbonisation targets.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also need to respond to the new trading reality that has resulted from Brexit. Our businesses and our communities need to be supported to deal with the challenges posed by Brexit and to build on the protections afforded by the protocol and the continuing access to the EU's single market. We need to see collective leadership to find solutions within the arrangements of the protocol and to support businesses that, because of Brexit, have greater challenges. That includes support to reorientate supply chains and markets across the island of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Recovery from COVID-19, even the economic recovery, will not fall to one Department to deliver. There will need to be an Executive strategy with buy-in from all Ministers. We need to work to tackle deprivation and break down barriers to education and employment.”
“The ongoing cost to businesses that have not been able to open for the past year is something that the British Treasury needs to look at again in respect of the furlough scheme. <BR /> <BR />The pandemic has lasted longer than many of us originally thought that it would, which has resulted in longer restrictions, and there has been a need for mitigations rather than stimuli for recovery. It is clear that that will continue for some time, but there is a need to plan for the way forward to ensure that we are ready to boost our recovery once we are through the worst of this and do not simply return to what we were doing before, because, let us face it, it was not working too well anyway; we have a very poor economic scorecard, and that needs to change.”
“We have seen massive state intervention from Governments around the world, which shows the strength and importance of doing something like that. That is something that we need to look at. What we want to see is continued economic and fiscal stimulus to support businesses and to get our recovery, particularly our economy recovery, on track. <BR /> <BR />All of us recognise the importance of the furlough scheme and the need for it to be extended further to continue to support businesses, particularly those most impacted and those that will not return to anything like normal operations for some time. Another possible cliff edge and lastminute.com announcement will not be helpful to any business that is trying to plan and to support its workers.”
“I am not sure if you are referring to me; I am not from Foyle.”
“I ask the Economy Minister to look at that again, including for those self-employed people who fall between the self-employment income support scheme and the newly self-employed scheme, for travel agents who have been very badly impacted and need particular supports and for the events sector, which has not had any specific support either. While there is money available, it should be utilised to help as many businesses and workers as possible. <BR /> <BR />The Finance Minister —.”
“Businesses have had to close and some people's jobs have disappeared overnight, while tens of thousands of people remain on furlough and uncertain about their future. <BR /> <BR />Certainly, the interventions from the British Government and the Executive have been vital in mitigating the worst impacts and in helping businesses to survive and protect jobs. However, despite all the interventions, there remain those who have been excluded from support schemes to date, which needs to be addressed. There remains £250 million of funding, which can be allocated to support businesses and protect jobs, but there has been a frustrating lack of any new schemes coming forward.”
“I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to today's debate and to move our amendment, which was tabled in the spirit of recognising the need for a collective approach from the Executive to the recovery from COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />We face many challenges in the weeks and months ahead as — hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, if we continue on the right track — restrictions begin to ease and society begins to reopen. It has been a devastating year, and everyone here will recognise that, first and foremost, it has had a devastating human cost, with many people losing loved ones and others suffering serious and long-lasting health impacts. It has also had a huge negative impact on our way of life and on livelihoods.”
“— highlighted that the majority of businesses here want practical solutions to make the protocol work. Does the Minister not agree that her time would be better spent engaging with those businesses and promoting our valuable access to the European market, rather than engaging in silly political stunts?”
“It is quite clear that Brexiteers argued for Brexit on the basis of fantasies and mistruths and ignored the concerns and fears, which have now been realised, that Brexit would bring only disruption and difficulties. A report last week by Manufacturing NI —”
“<BR /> <BR />In supporting the statutory rules, I encourage the Minister to ensure that all possible financial assistance is extended to businesses and that flexibilities in schemes that are operating to get support out to businesses are put in place to protect jobs and livelihoods.”
“As the Minister outlined, the extensions continue the measures until 29 March, 31 March and 30 April respectively. As a party, we support this important support for businesses, which gives them the flexibility that will help them to survive and recover. <BR /> <BR />The Minister made a point about the SR on flexibility with regard to meetings. Has the Department written to all mutual societies to inform them that they might need to amend regulations? In addition, are there restrictions on the number of times that extensions can be made in respect of the other two SRs?”
“The Examiner of Statutory Rules has raised no issue with the rule, and, on the Committee's behalf, I support the motion to confirm it. <BR /> <BR />I will now make a few remarks as Sinn Féin economy spokesperson. The three statutory rules, as the Minister outlined, extend flexibilities in the areas of holding meetings, temporary measures, winding-up petitions, statutory demands and the suspension of liability for wrongful trading. These are all important supports for businesses that have been badly impacted by the pandemic, and, although they were intended to be temporary, it is necessary to extend them as the pandemic continues.”
“The Examiner of Statutory Rules has raised no issue with the rule, and, on the Committee's behalf, I support the motion to confirm it. <BR /> <BR />The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Liability for Wrongful Trading) Regulations (NI) 2020 will further assist companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The rule restored provision in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 suspending directors' liability for wrongful trading, and it extends the operation of that provision until 30 April 2021. The Committee agreed the statutory rule at its meeting on 16 December, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The rule came into operation in December 2020.”
“The Examiner of Statutory Rules has raised no issue with the rule, and, on the Committee's behalf, I support the motion to confirm it. <BR /> <BR />The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Amendment of Certain Relevant Periods) (No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2020 will further assist companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The regulation extends the duration of the temporary measures restricting the use of statutory demands and winding-up petitions introduced by the Act beyond their current expiration date of 31 December 2020 until 31 March 2021. The Committee agreed the statutory rule at its meeting on 16 December, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The rule came into operation in December 2020.”
“As Chair of the Economy Committee, I will speak briefly in support of the motions on its behalf. <BR /> <BR />The Minister indicated that the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Amendment of Relevant Period for Meetings of Registered Societies and Credit Unions No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2020 amends the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 by extending the temporary relevant period for mutual societies to hold meetings in a flexible manner. The regulation substitutes the end date of 30 December 2020 for the new end date of 29 March 2021. The Committee agreed the statutory rule for the regulations at its meeting on 13 January 2021, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The rule came into operation in December 2020.”
“I thank the First Minister for her response. Even before the pandemic, it was clear that our high streets were rapidly changing. Obviously, that is now being accelerated, and we do need to be planning strategically for the future to better use our towns and cities where people can afford to live, work and socialise. Does the First Minister agree that environmental sustainability needs to be a core principle that the task force incorporates into its work, through, for example, promoting active and public transport, carbon-neutral buildings or green spaces that people can enjoy?”
“I thank the Minister for her very comprehensive response. Obviously, a multifaceted approach is required. Encouraging people on to public transport is also critical, and park-and-rides are one way of doing that and making it accessible. From a constituency perspective, when the A6 scheme was announced, three park-and-rides were planned at Drumahoe, Claudy and Dungiven. The Drumahoe park-and-ride has progressed, and I have engaged extensively with Translink and DFI about the Dungiven one. Frustratingly, there has been some back and forth about the location. We have been told for some time that a decision is imminent. Will the Minister give an update on the A6 park-and-rides?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, although it is disappointing that the Executive have been provided with only a standstill Budget. I am particularly concerned by the Minister's statement that the spending review has not delivered the support required to kick-start an economic recovery. <BR /> <BR />I ask the Minister whether he agrees that, given that the economy will only be entering recovery mode next year — depending on the path of the pandemic — what is needed now is economic stimulus rather than a return to austerity, as he mentioned in his previous answer, particularly so at a time when there are historically low borrowing rates.”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the House to answer the question. <BR /> <BR />The transition period was supposed to provide the time to agree future arrangements and give businesses and everyone else the opportunity to prepare; instead, we had 11 months of prevarication, distraction and brinkmanship from the British Government before the trade and cooperation agreement was eventually reached on Christmas Eve, giving businesses just one week to prepare for the new arrangements. What assurances have the British Government given the Minister that they will take the necessary steps to support businesses that move goods to the North and are adapting to the new post-Brexit trading reality?”
“Given the destructive impact of Brexit that we have already seen in the first two weeks of the new year, have there been any immediate challenges to the wider policing and justice system in 2021 as a result of Brexit?”
“I am sure the Member will agree that it is quite interesting to listen to the utterances about consent. I am sure the DUP and UUP Members all know full well that parallel consent applies to certain Assembly procedures. It is laid out in the Good Friday Agreement. It is not to do with constitutional issues that will be decided by a simple majority.”
“It is likely that many of those who were involved in the research that led to the creation of the vaccines were funded by European sources.”
“<BR /> <BR />For those citizens who value their EU citizenship, there is a route back to the EU through a unity referendum. That is a debate and conversation that continues to grow. <BR /> <BR />Go raibh maith agat.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are lucky that, to date, our interests, those of our citizens, economy, businesses and peace agreement have been championed by the EU, but we need to have our voices heard in the future. All the sectors mentioned — farmers, universities and community and voluntary sector — need to input in the future where EU regulations will continue to apply. We need to see real, effective North/South collaboration to ensure that that happens. <BR /> <BR />The protocol provides protection for the all-island economy and North/South cooperation. We need to build on that. There are huge opportunities to build on relationships across this island, with access to the EU, which must be capitalised on, in particular, as we plan recovery from COVID-19 and take the necessary action to address the climate emergency.”
“<BR /> <BR />We effectively left the EU in January of this year — something which, for ideological reasons, some across the Chamber welcome — but, come tomorrow night, when it is a practical reality, many here will feel sadness and loss. Those people who considered themselves European, as well as British or Irish, and who valued their rights and entitlements as EU citizens, face a loss of some of those. Ironically, it is the Irish Government who have stepped up and offered some continuation of those rights. They are going to fund ERASMUS for our young people so that they can continue to benefit from that important opportunity to work and study across the EU. They are going to continue to ensure that citizens here can continue to access the European health insurance card.”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, it seems to have come as a surprise to some DUP Ministers that their Departments are facing a loss of funding as a result of Brexit. No one could have seriously believed that the British Government were going to fund us to the same extent that the EU did with its considerable funds. Whatever those on the other side of the Chamber might argue, we in the North have been a net beneficiary of EU funding. We have benefited considerably, much beyond our Barnett consequential, from EU funding. Our farmers, universities and community and voluntary sector rely considerably on EU funding, and are now depending on the much-mooted shared prosperity fund, but they are still unclear as to what that funding picture will be and how it will be administered.”
“<BR /> <BR />The agreement on the protocol that preceded the trade deal provides some relief, through the grace periods, for businesses, but we need to see real effort from the British Government and their agencies in ensuring that those periods are utilised and that, when they end, the difficulties are minimised. We need the trader support service to do what its name suggests and support those businesses that are trading between here and Britain. We need to see considerable resources in place to make sure that that happens. The Department for the Economy and its agencies need to step up and ensure that all businesses of all sizes, including our small and microbusinesses, have access to the information and support that they need, and that the practical realities of trade are communicated effectively.”
“However, Brexit brings the gift of friction, and that friction is in the Irish Sea. It will, undoubtedly, bring with it difficulties and complexities for business. No one has argued that the protocol is some silver bullet, but imagine how much worse it would be if there was no protocol and we were looking at a regulatory border across the island — in the middle of those vital supply chains. Those arguing against the protocol need to remind themselves why there is a protocol. It is because of Brexit — a Brexit that most of them championed.”
“No, I do not get an extra minute. <BR /> <BR />For many businesses, organisations and individuals, what becomes reality on 1 January remains a confusing mess. There is a lack of preparation time, as the British Government ran down the clock until the last minute, and threw spanners in the works with the IM Bill along the way, which hindered progress. It means that there is just one week between a deal being agreed and it becoming effective. Businesses, like the rest of us, are still digesting the details and their implications. <BR /> <BR />The protocol that was agreed with the withdrawal agreement provides some protection. It ensures no hardening of the border across this island, which ensures that all-island supply chains, which are vital in some sectors, can continue.”
“Its casualties are our businesses and economy, the rights of young people and citizens, our European funding, and workers across Britain and the North. The trade deal that was agreed on Christmas Eve may mark a new chapter, but Brexit and its consequences will be with us for the foreseeable future. To be abundantly clear, there is simply no good Brexit. There is a trade deal, which is better than none, and a protocol to provide some mitigation from the worst impacts, but it remains a fact that we are enjoying less favourable circumstances in our trade, relationships, ease of movement and funding than we enjoyed as members of the EU. How anyone can celebrate that is beyond me.”
“There is, of course, no mandate for the Brexit that is being foisted upon the people of the North. Our wishes have been ignored by a detached and disinterested British Government — successive British Governments, in fact. The Assembly has not consented to Brexit, and Sinn Féin will not be giving its consent to an LCM on the Tory Brexit agreement. Likewise, Wales and Scotland are not giving their consent to what is essentially a hard Brexit. It is a bad deal for us all. As Manufacturing NI said, it is the first trade deal that makes trade more difficult than the status quo. <BR /> <BR />Brexit is an agenda that was driven by narrow, English nationalist motives and a harking back to the halcyon days of an empire long gone.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Politically, and in every other way, this year has been dominated by the coronavirus pandemic. However, for the past five years, one issue — in fact, one word — has dominated our political discourse, and that is Brexit.”
“— and councils is one area. We all need to recognise — I suppose that we all do recognise it — that the lack of overall clarity has impacted on the extent of communication, but, going forward, we really need to see a joined-up and collaborative approach.”
“For example, the communication between the Executive —”
“<BR /> <BR />Issues impacting on cross-border businesses and workers have also been highlighted in the report, and, recently, there has been significant criticism by groups here of the lack of engagement by the British Government on the frontier worker permit scheme. That permit scheme has now opened, and we really need to see further engagement and information disseminated about it. <BR /> <BR />I have touched on only a small number of issues highlighted in the report, but it is a very useful overview of the issues. The Executive Office Committee has done an important piece of work in compiling this report and giving us the opportunity to discuss it in the Chamber this evening at this really important time, just a fortnight away from the end of the transition period. There are some things that need to be taken for action from the report.”
“Even with what was published on the shared prosperity fund in the spending review a couple of weeks ago, there is still a lot to be desired in terms of what will be available and how it will be administered, and I agree with the sentiments in the report that there needs to be close cooperation with councils and other organisations here on the shared prosperity fund. However, it remains deeply concerning — it should be concerning for everyone in the Chamber — that the British Government have sought to retain the financial powers clauses in the Internal Market Bill and give themselves the power to allocate funding over the head of the Assembly and the Executive.”