Caoimhe Archibald
East Londonderry · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Taken together, that points to a scheme that is operating effectively in its early stages, while, of course, remaining under review as further evidence becomes available. <BR /> <BR />I therefore commend to the Assembly the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.”
“I seek the Assembly's approval for the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. The statutory rule was made on 1 April and came into operation on 6 April. It is before the Assembly today under the confirmatory procedure.”
“The 2026 regulatory impact assessment estimates one-off employer familiarisation costs of up to £1·36 million, with wider HMRC implementation costs forecast at £1·5 million and annual systems maintenance costs of around £10,000. It may assist Members to note that early implementation has gone smoothly.”
“The amendment ensures the continued operation of those regulations and forms part of a wider package of legislative measures establishing statutory parental bereavement pay as an entitlement for bereaved parents.”
“The regulations before the Assembly today are a key part of that implementation and ensure the continued operation of the statutory parental bereavement pay framework. The policy objective is clear: to support bereaved working parents at a time of profound loss and provide a minimum standard of protection in law.”
“<BR /> <BR />The confirmatory procedure means that the regulations before the House today have come into operation before the Assembly debate has taken place and must then be approved by the Assembly within the relevant statutory period. In this case, the deadline for approval is 20 September 2026.”
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“As I indicated, we have had considerable engagement with all sectors. If the Member wants to bring a business or collection of businesses to our attention, my officials will be more than happy to ensure that there is engagement with them. It is important that people understand the measures proposed in the Bill rather than some version of them that is not entirely accurate. I am keen to continue to engage and to ensure that people are equipped with information and are able to be part of the process. Once the Bill has been introduced and passes to Committee Stage, the Committee will have the opportunity to engage widely with representatives of workers and employers.”
“I similarly appreciate the support of the Member and his party for this important legislation. He will appreciate that the mandate has been shortened and that it takes time to craft legislation as comprehensive as the Bill. It is near completion, and we hope to have a full draft of the Bill in a few weeks so that we can get it to the Executive and, as I indicated, introduce it before the summer recess and pass it before the end of the mandate.”
“I thank the Member for his continued engagement on the 'good jobs' Bill, because it is important that we get it right. That is why I have had such extensive engagement with representatives of workers and employers' organisations and with individual businesses. My officials have engaged consistently over the past number of months to ensure that what we introduce meets the requirements of workers and businesses. Far from being ham-fisted legislation, it is a set of progressive measures that will enhance the lives of workers and support good employers by enabling them not to be undercut by those who implement poor practices. It is incumbent on us all to ensure that the Bill progresses at pace and passes into law before the end of the mandate.”
“I look forward to the Assembly's support in getting the Bill through.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He confused me slightly, because he is usually on the other side of the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />I reassure the Member that work is progressing on the drafting of the Bill. I hope to have it with me in a short number of weeks so that we can refer it to the Executive for agreement. I intend to introduce the Bill to the Assembly before summer recess so that the Committee has it to scrutinise it over the summer months and into the autumn and ensure that we are able to pass it into law before the end of the mandate. The Bill includes many important protections. Some of them catch up with legislative changes that have taken place in Britain while the Assembly was not sitting, but there are important progressive changes that will make a real difference to the lives of ordinary workers here.”
“Although the loss of two years in the mandate has required us to work to an exceptionally tight timetable, the drafting of the employment rights Bill is now being finalised. The Bill is an ambitious and wide-ranging package of legislative reforms, and I recently secured the Executive’s endorsement of its policy content. When drafting is complete, I will bring the final Bill to the Executive for agreement. I trust that my Executive colleagues will join me in introducing the Bill, which will strengthen employment law and benefit workers and employers.”
“I addressed those issues with the Chair at the Economy Committee last week. Anybody can have a lapse in the information at their disposal when they are being questioned. The framing of the question did not help with the understanding of the issue. We have since adequately laid out the facts. Over the past number of months, officials have worked diligently to ensure that consumers here receive benefits comparable to those in Britain. As I indicated, we are now in a position to move forward and ensure that that support is available at the earliest opportunity in July and again over the next two years. We will discuss that matter at the Executive this week.”
“We will therefore continue to make the case for additional support, but it is important that what we have available at the minute is targeted at helping those in most imminent need. <BR /> <BR />As I also indicated in my opening answer, the rises in gas prices are particularly concerning, because, if they continue, they will have an impact on people's gas bills and electricity bills. During the Ukraine energy price crisis, we saw the British Government move to implement support, and I have consistently made the case that we need to see something similar in this instance.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I indicated in my opening answer, the figures that the Consumer Council provided show the significant increases that people have immediately faced since the conflict unfolded. The figures really bring home the pressures that people are under. The Executive have been alive to those pressures. There was a discussion at the most recent Executive meeting on the matter, and it will be on the agenda again at this Thursday's meeting. We have a package of support in place, and we will work alongside the Minister for Communities to ensure that it gets out as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, it is not enough, as we have all indicated.”
“I subsequently spoke to and wrote to Martin McCluskey, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers in DESNZ, about the urgent need for support. The £17 million that the British Government announced is clearly inadequate. It is therefore important that whatever support is available or becomes available is targeted at those most in need. I am meeting Michael Shanks and Martin McCluskey regularly, and I will continue to argue for additional support should the conflict continue to drive up energy prices.”
“When the conflict in the Middle East began, the reduction in electricity bills of around £30 a year had already been announced, with delivery being progressed by my Department. Many of our households and businesses are already under pressure from the cost-of-living crisis, and the new energy shock is compounding those pressures. I am particularly concerned about the impact on low-income and vulnerable households. Consumer Council figures show that the cost of oil for households has nearly doubled since 26 February. <BR /> <BR />I have consistently pressed the British Government for support, and I continue to do so. I spoke to Michael Shanks, Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), on 4 March to highlight the impact of the immediate rise in home heating oil costs.”
“<BR /> <BR />The current energy price crisis is a global energy shock, and the scale of the resources needed are beyond the means of an already underfunded Executive. Since the outset, I have engaged with my counterparts in the British Government to make the case for immediate support for those impacted, particularly by the home heating oil price hikes, but I have also been making the case that, as we continue to see gas prices spike, households and businesses here will need additional support. The support announced last week does not go anywhere near far enough, so I, alongside my Executive colleagues, will continue to make the case to the British Government for them to provide more funding to help businesses and households.”
“Prior to the onset of the most recent energy price crisis that has resulted from the Israeli/US attacks in Iran, I and my Department have been working to implement the reduction in electricity bills announced by the British Chancellor in the Budget last November. Despite our being excluded originally from the British Government's scheme, I secured approval to implement a similar scheme here. The necessary statutory instrument to provide legislative cover from Westminster was laid last Monday and is due to be in place in June. Subject to Executive agreement, my Department will be ready to go live with the scheme on 1 July. The Treasury has consistently insisted that the funding can be used only for a comparable scheme, meaning a £30 discount on every household’s electricity bill. That was confirmed in writing as recently as last Tuesday.”
“The Member seriously misrepresents my party's policies. For his information, rather than losing jobs, we have been successful in securing jobs over the past year, such as the 100 jobs with Biller Genie that were announced in November; the 100 jobs that were announced by Napier Technologies last February; the jobs that were announced by SpiderRock and ControlSoft; and the jobs that were announced just last week by iVerify. We have been successful in promoting the positive offering that we have here in our skills, our people and, as I said, our positive business environment. That is what potential investors and investors who come, invest and reinvest here look for. Some 62% of investors who come here reinvest because of their experience here. That is what I go out to promote and offer to investors from around the world.”
“As I have outlined, meetings with prospective investors are conducted confidentially to protect commercially sensitive information and to respect all parties' privacy. Accordingly, it is not appropriate for me to comment on or disclose any details of my meeting with the company.”
“The company has indicated that it views releasing information about its strategy or decision-making as harmful to its commercial position, so it is not appropriate for me to do so.”
“For my part, as Economy Minister, I will continue to make a positive pitch for inward investment, first and foremost on the basis of the talent and skills of our people and the positive business culture and supportive environment that companies experience here.”
“Despite the US Administration's swing towards protectionism and the adoption of an "America First" policy, the North remains an attractive location for US investment, and engagement remains strong. An essential prerequisite for engaging with US companies and any prospective investor is that their privacy is respected and commercially sensitive information is protected. Breaching that trust would seriously compromise our ability to engage with such prospective investors. Members should also be reminded that investors or prospective investors do not appreciate attempts to drag them into political controversy or use them for political point-scoring.”
“I thank the Chair of the Committee for the Economy for his contribution and members of the Committee for their consideration of the regulations. As has been set out, the regulations change the inflation index used for the NIRO scheme from the retail price index to the consumer price index, ensuring parity with the two renewables obligation schemes in Britain. I commend the motion to the House and thank Members for their support.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“Moving to the consumer price index reflects best regulatory practice and provides a more accurate and stable basis for adjusting costs than the retail price index. <BR /> <BR />In summary, given the ongoing enactment of similar regulations in Britain, this is a necessary measure, and I welcome the Assembly's support for it.”
“Today, I seek the Assembly's approval of the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026. The statutory rule (SR), made under the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, seeks to change the index used to apply inflationary increases to the Northern Ireland renewables obligation (NIRO) scheme's buyout price from the retail price index to the consumer price index. The change is being implemented concurrently with that for the two renewables obligation schemes in Britain, namely the renewables obligation scheme in England and Wales and the renewables obligation Scotland scheme. It is appropriate and necessary that we implement the same approach here. There are no financial implications arising from the instrument.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“<BR /> <BR />As we look ahead, I remain firmly committed to working with all stakeholders to remove any obstacles that hinder student mobility across the island by ensuring that learners in each jurisdiction enjoy equal opportunities to access skills and education wherever they choose. We are not only promoting individual growth but fostering regional balance and strengthening all-island collaboration. Together, we can build a more inclusive and dynamic education landscape for future generations. Go raibh maith agat.”
“I thank the Member for that intervention. I take all opportunities to raise these issues with my counterpart, Minister Lawless. We have a shared commitment to removing those barriers, particularly when it comes to people understanding the application process. The piece of work that I mentioned that was done with the student representatives was designed by students themselves to provide that type of information. That is available on nidirect. We may need to do a bit more work to ensure that people, particularly young people and their parents, know where to go to look for resources. I remain open to the further work that needs to be done and to raising that with my counterparts in the South.”
“I agree that the Department of Education has a key role to play in ensuring that young people understand the full range of pathways available to them and that their needs are met when navigating their application to higher education institutions across the island. <BR /> <BR />In November, I met the Education Minister to discuss cross-cutting issues, including North/South student mobility. There was a shared recognition of the importance of supporting clear pathways for our young people and a collective commitment from us to work with counterparts in the South to identify and remove barriers.”
“I note that the motion calls on the Minister of Education:”
“<BR /> <BR />Concurrently, my Department's Careers Service has updated and improved its guide to career entry routes. That resource, now readily available online and distributed to all schools, offers up-to-date guidance on the various pathways into university, ensuring that students are well equipped to navigate their options in the North and the South. It is useful to have received Members' feedback on that; I will take it up with officials, because further work may be needed to ensure that schools are engaged with it. The Careers Service also provides impartial and personalised advice and guidance on an all-age basis. Provided by professionally qualified careers advisers, it includes guidance on higher education options, entry requirements, how to approach and improve an application and study options in all parts of the island.”
“It is delivered in partnership with South West College, Alacrity Foundation, Atlantic Technological University, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Leitrim County Enterprise Fund and Ulster University. <BR /> <BR />I recognise that effective support for cross-border student mobility hinges on ensuring that prospective students have access to clear, comprehensive information that empowers them to make well-informed choices about their preferred place of study. A number of Members mentioned that during the debate. To that end, my officials collaborated closely with student representatives to enhance the guidance available on nidirect, making it easier for individuals exploring higher education opportunities across these islands to find relevant and practical advice.”
“The north-west tertiary education cluster partnership, involving North West Regional College, Ulster University, Atlantic Technological University and Donegal Education and Training Board, provides pathways and progression routes for students on a cross-border basis and works alongside industry to ensure high-value jobs for the region. <BR /> <BR />In the south-west, all-island relationships have led to programmes to reach rural communities and deliver key skills, such as the Smart Rural Innovation Driven Empowerment (STRIDE) initiative. STRIDE empowers local citizens by using digital technologies to tackle societal and economic challenges.”
“A notable example is the two-year accounting technologist higher-level apprenticeship, which was designed by Accounting Technicians Ireland in partnership with further and higher education institutions and employers across the island. It has been delivered by Southern Regional College since 2024, and, last October, I was delighted to co-launch with Minister Lawless the delivery of the programme in the South. <BR /> <BR />Our further education colleges are active in building and maintaining collaborative all-Ireland relationships across a range of matters, creating opportunities for cross-border student mobility.”
“It is important to recognise that all-island student mobility extends well beyond the sphere of higher education. Opportunities for cross-border movement and collaboration exist at multiple levels, including further education, apprenticeships, vocational training and school partnerships. By supporting mobility across those diverse educational pathways, we can ensure that learners of all backgrounds and aspirations can benefit from the rich resources, experiences and opportunities available throughout the island. <BR /> <BR />I am eager to further develop and promote apprenticeship opportunities that operate across the entire island. Cross-border apprenticeships are already in operation.”
“More broadly, my Department has increased maintenance loans for full-time undergraduate students by 20% for the current academic year. A further 2·7% inflationary uplift to the maximum maintenance loans and grants is planned for 2026-27. Those uplifts are available to students from here, regardless of where on the island they choose to study.”
“Recognising that, my Department introduced a tuition-fee loan for postgraduate students from the North who choose to study in the South, effective from the 2024-25 academic year. The policy is specifically designed to alleviate the financial barriers that might otherwise deter students from pursuing educational opportunities across the island. I have also taken steps to augment eligibility for doctoral funding by amending the terms and conditions of my Department's postgraduate researcher scheme. As a result, PhD students from the South are now entitled to not only fee support but the full stipend across all funded PhD studentships.”
“The campus location provides a natural cross-border catchment area, and its expansion further enhances Magee's role as a truly regional campus, creating meaningful opportunities for students from both the North and South, while promoting regional balance and sustainable growth in the north-west. The recently announced partnership between Queen's University and Dundalk Institute of Technology is another positive step in North/South collaboration. The partnership will strengthen academic links across the island, expand the opportunities for student and researcher mobility, foster innovation and further support the delivery of regional balance. <BR /> <BR />Of course, financial considerations continue to play a pivotal role in shaping students' decisions about where they study.”
“As others have mentioned, I have real concerns about the Department of Education's proposal to discontinue AS levels, which was in the recent consultation on the future of GCSEs, AS levels and A levels. If implemented, it could reverse some of the progress on reducing barriers to student mobility. However, I agree with Mr Honeyford that the value of A levels should be recognised: three A levels at the top grade should get you the top points. <BR /> <BR />Another exemplar of all-Ireland collaboration and student mobility is the expansion of the Magee campus of Ulster University.”
“However, we are not seeing the same increase in students from the North enrolling in the South. In fact, as was pointed out, the reality is quite the opposite, indicating that further work is required to ensure that there is equality of opportunity in both jurisdictions. <BR /> <BR />The motion recognises the work undertaken to date to remove barriers to student mobility across the island, and one of the most significant steps taken was the review of A-level grade equivalency by Universities Ireland. Following the review, A-level students no longer need to present four top A-level grades to reach the maximum tariff: three A levels and one AS level are now sufficient.”
“I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion. It has been very interesting to listen to Members' contributions this evening. I believe passionately in the right of every student or young person, regardless of their background, to access high-quality education and unlock their full potential, be that on this island or elsewhere. To achieve that, we need to remove all barriers to student mobility, whether that involves travelling from the South to the North or vice versa. <BR /> <BR />In recent years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of students from the South enrolling in courses at universities in the North. Our higher education institutions in this region deliver high-quality teaching, research excellence and an exceptional experience for students.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“We need to continue to focus on that and make sure that we continue to engage with industry in order to understand its needs. That was one of the aspects of the green skills action plan that I was particularly pleased about, because it was genuinely industry-led and responded to the industry's needs. We need to keep that under review and iteratively update our action plans in order to ensure that they continue to be relevant.”
“I thank the Member for her question. That is one of the themes of the new work plan. We all recognise that if we are to harness the benefits of the transition to net zero, we will need people with skills. The Department published the green skills action plan a number of months ago, which sets out how we plan to ensure that we have the people and the pipeline of skills coming through across the different disciplines that are going to be required. Having that as one of the themes in the work plan across all eight jurisdictions means that we can learn from work that others are doing, and they can do likewise. It also means that, where challenges are presented, we will have the opportunity to look at what others are doing and learn from that. I am really pleased that that is one of the themes.”
“I thank the Member for his question. My officials have been working with Ministers in Britain to understand the priorities that GB Energy has now agreed. In particular, it has placed a focus on local power plans and community-led projects. I want us to lean into that in order to make sure that communities here are able to access the supports that are available from GB Energy and the funding that will flow from them. My officials are engaging on that, and I have asked them to put a new focus on it so that we can make sure that we gain from any arrangements that are being put in place.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I will be meeting Wrightbus in the near future, and I look forward to hearing about its plans. As the Member will be aware, there are plans in the growth deal for a hydrogen hub, which is really welcome. There are considerable opportunities, and Wrightbus is one example. There are others, such as CATAGEN, that are doing really important work that we will be able to show the benefits of. We can show how we are a leader in this technology. Along with Invest NI and others, my Department is working to support that. I am also happy to continue to work with the Member in relation to his constituency interests.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The North/South interconnector is important for our security of supply. We need to see that progressed in lines with the terms under which it was approved.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Since the publication of my decision, the Utility Regulator has been progressing the necessary licence modifications for NIE Networks and undertaken the regulatory scrutiny of the detailed charging arrangements. Subject to the completion of that regulatory process, NIE Networks is expected to publish a new statement of connection charges before the end of June 2026, enabling the new fairer connection charging arrangements to then take effect for customers.”
“I thank the Member for that question. Biomethane has been discussed, not just in that forum but in other forums where we have cross-jurisdictional input in relation to energy. We have really good on-the-ground examples of it already happening. The work in the Department, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, is progressing and has had a new focus placed upon it. <BR /> <BR />I had the opportunity to meet some businesses that are pursuing that work and are keen to see it benefiting local communities, including those in Fermanagh. The Department is putting considerable focus on that, in collaboration with DAERA, and we hope to see good progress on it in the coming months.”
“We are taking the approach of looking at the various areas and ensuring that we meet the milestones that have been set. <BR /> <BR />The Member will be aware of the number of areas of work that we would really like to see progress on before the end of the mandate. That will be challenging, but I believe that we can do it.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As a member of the Economy Committee, he will know that we published the review of the energy strategy just before Christmas. It was a timely opportunity to look at the progress that has been made and at the areas where there are still challenges and opportunities to be grasped to meet those targets. <BR /> <BR />He will also know that a number of significant areas of policy development are progressing. A number of consultations that have concluded recently will contribute to the work to meet our targets. That is all really important. It is all set within the framework of the energy strategy, which guides us in the targets that we have set ourselves to align with the Climate Change Act. Working along those lines will help us to deliver against those targets.”
“That means that we have to have skills programmes in place, and it means that we need supply chains that will support the renewables sector more generally to deliver. That is really important work. <BR /> <BR />It is also really important for tackling fuel poverty, and Minister Lyons attended the meeting with me. It was particularly pertinent for him to have attended, given his role in retrofitting and in other initiatives that the Department for Communities leads on. There is a lot of cross-departmental work under all those themes that we can certainly pursue together.”
“I thank the Member for her question, and I wish her luck on the Economy Committee. I look forward to working with her. <BR /> <BR />The themes that have been set out in the next programme of work are ones that are really tangible to people and communities and are about ensuring that people understand and feel the benefits. When it comes to public acceptance, that is a particular theme that we will be leading on, because it is crucial that people understand what the transition will mean and how it can benefit them. There are also other issues around skills and supply chains that are, again, very tangible in ensuring that we are prepared for the transition and are able to take the full opportunities that are presented to us.”