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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“Will the Minster outline the extent of cyberbullying and other forms of bullying that are affecting our children and young people?”
“I thank the Minister for her responses so far. She may be aware that it was reported last week that one of the air quality monitors in Dungiven was not working, and has not been for some time. I understand that it is the council's responsibility to replace that. Was the Department aware that it was not working? Whose responsibility is it to request a replacement?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Human Rights Commission's response to the Programme for Government consultation sets out a variety of international treaty obligations and outlines where they fit in terms of law, policy and practice of the European Convention. It is important to note that, in the three most recent UN reports, there are concerns and recommendations regarding three important areas: the equality Act, the bill of rights and the repeal of the Human Rights Act. Let us stand up for somebody's rights today. Take a stand and defend someone's rights, because each one of us can make a difference.”
“It is important that the Executive are represented at these UN Committees to tell the good-news stories where they exist. <BR /> <BR />The Human Rights Commission, in evidence to the Executive Office Committee, suggested a coordinating role for the Executive Department for scrutiny of the concerns and recommendations identified in UN reports that cut across all Departments, be it Justice, Education, Communities, Health or others. The Equality Commission, too, has mentioned a scrutinising role for the Assembly Committees and said that, for example, recommendations on childcare should be fully scrutinised by the Department for Communities. The Assembly needs to take an active interest in all this.”
“Les Allamby from the Human Rights Commission recently said:”
“The lack of engagement with the UN reporting processes by the Executive has been raised, in particular by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. To quote:”
“The recommendations from these are about everyday issues in small places close to home — for example, childcare, poverty, housing, education and Irish language. They are the world of the individual person. <BR /> <BR />A lot of issues have been raised by the treaty monitoring bodies. There are a number of recommendations specific to the North of Ireland in each of the three recent treaty reports, namely the report from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; the UN report on economic, social and cultural rights; and the UN report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
“The Assembly can explore how we, as MLAs and legislators, can embed human rights principles into everything that we do. Human rights treaties cannot be ignored. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights agreed by the United Nations in 1948 set out a list of 30 universal human rights, and the UN has agreed a number of legally binding core human rights instruments. States that have ratified those instruments have specific obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the rights contained in them. The ratification of an instrument legally obliges a state to participate in a monitoring cycle and report to the UN oversight committee every five years. Sinn Féin supports participation in the UN human rights monitoring mechanism.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important motion tabled by my party colleagues. We are also happy with the amendments being proposed and welcome the support that the motion has received from other parties. <BR /> <BR />In international human rights week, we in the Assembly can make a real difference. We can explore the implementation and incorporation of the key international human rights treaties — for example, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. <BR /> <BR />Human Rights Day calls on everyone to stand up for someone's rights.”
“The health service across the island faces great challenges, and we are too small an island not to be looking at how we can collaborate most effectively to deliver for all our people.”
“There has been huge investment in Altnagelvin over the past few years, and the new radiotherapy unit as a cross-border service is a major development. That investment makes Altnagelvin a centre of excellence and, therefore, an ideal teaching location. The cross-border nature of the new radiotherapy centre needs to be used as the model for future service delivery, and we should look to attract students from the entire west of the country, and further afield, to a medical school there. <BR /> <BR />As Mr Durkan said, the medical school has the support of professional bodies and there needs to be collaboration with those to move the project forward. There should be further exploration of the cross-border potential of this project and building on our structural infrastructure on an all-Ireland basis in general as we plan for the future.”
“Likewise, there are also recognised issues for GPs, as has been mentioned, and the Minister has begun to tackle this by increasing GP training places for 2016-17. Having a medical school in the north-west would hopefully attract trainees to practices in that locality and we would then have a better spread of trainees across the North.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Minister's plans regarding specialised centres will also begin to redress the imbalance in recruitment ability to some trusts, and it is likely that certain specialisms will be based in different regional hospitals. Those training in specialisms are therefore likely be based in those hospitals in the longer term. Hypothetically, that will have the knock-on effect of retaining staff in the appropriate specialisms in those hospitals. <BR /> <BR />If we look at the Western Trust as an example of where specialisms are already located, there are urology, radiotherapy and orthopaedics in Altnagelvin. In orthopaedics, in which there are specialisms within specialisms, there is a need for targeted recruitment, and the training of students in the location may help alleviate that, alongside other measures.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is evidence that medical students and trainees are more likely to stay in the hospitals in which they train. Having a medical school in Derry would therefore have the knock-on effect of encouraging staff to take up positions in the locality and with the surrounding trusts in the longer term. We do mean the longer term, because we are talking several years by the time that the project would be implemented and the first cohort of students would have gone through. <BR /> <BR />That is how the Minister's plan for reconfiguration of the health service must be viewed. It must be allowed to have an implementation phase. That will be a process to address issues that have developed over decades, and there are no overnight quick fixes. It is a big-picture view that we need to take.”
“I will be rehearsing some of what has already been said. <BR /> <BR />Week in and week out — in our constituency offices, in our engagements with the trust, in the media, and here through questions to the Minister — we hear about long waiting times, staff shortages and difficulties in recruiting staff to the health service. The Minister has outlined her commitment to the reconfiguration of the health service. That reconfiguration needs to be at all levels right from the start of the cycle, and that begins with training of staff. <BR /> <BR />As a representative of a constituency partly in the Western Trust, I am all too aware of how difficult it is to recruit staff and of the disproportionate cost of locums in the trust area, as Mr Durkan outlined. Spending on locums in the Western Trust doubled between 2011-12 and 2015-16.”
“I am pleased to contribute to the debate on the motion, which I will be supporting. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has been to the fore of consistently promoting the expansion of Ulster University at Magee, and the further and higher education offering in the north-west in general. It is a region with huge potential, which we are seeing through developments at Magee, the North West Regional College and the North West Regional Science Park. <BR /> <BR />A continued focus on development and investment is required to promote the genuine regional balance of our economy that we all want to see. Education and skills are a part of that, and delivering those locally is necessary. The medical school project would very much add to the offering in the north-west and begin to tackle some of the issues in our health service.”
“Given that the scope of the Bill, as implemented here, will be narrow, that we have had clarification that it will not impact on the tuition fees that institutions can charge and that any further changes to the Bill that would impact in the North will require Assembly consent, with the reassurances from the Minister on the issues raised and the explanations provided, we are prepared to support the limited scope of the LCM.”
“The narrow view that education is solely for the purpose of finding a job is regressive, and the Bill encourages that. Given, however, that the scope of the Bill, as implemented here —”
“As the Minister also outlined, institutions here are currently included in the TEF and have expressed their desire to continue, solely for the purposes of attracting home, EU or international students. <BR /> <BR />We share the concern that others have stated that the matrices of the TEF, as currently suggested, are not the best measures of teaching quality and are not equitable across the higher education sector. The measures have a focus on education for employment's sake. In a year when we have seen the result of misinformation and the concept of post-truth has become part of our everyday conversation, it is more important than ever to encourage education for education's sake and for the purpose of broadening minds and learning and encouraging as wide a participation as is possible.”
“I thank the Minister for his earlier remarks clarifying some of the issues raised. We believe that the Higher Education and Research Bill being introduced in England is symptomatic of the neo-liberal policies of the Tory Administration in encouraging the marketisation of the higher education sector by encouraging competition between institutions, and we feel that it is regressive in that regard. Through the teaching excellence framework, institutions are measured on matrices, some of which Mr Farry outlined, including student satisfaction, employability and course completion rates. In England, those are being linked to the fees that institutions can charge. That is not the case here, and I welcome the Minister clarifying that that will continue.”
“There is an awful lot of work to be done on the policy directions going forward and the entire outworkings of the process of exiting the EU, however that may transpire. <BR /> <BR />I am encouraged that the new draft of the Programme for Government has taken on board the findings of the initial consultation. I envisage that further responses to the consultation will be reflected in the final version.”
“It mentions the opportunities that it provides in employment, innovation, knowledge and skills and the wider economy. <BR /> <BR />There is also an acknowledgement of the cross-cutting nature of energy through to other outcomes, in particular outcome 2, which is to live and work sustainably, protecting the environment. We have already talked about the various targets that we are committed to meeting. There is also a specific mention of the role of energy in a circular economy model and the need to address energy generation from waste. <BR /> <BR />In my opinion, the PFG process has been responsive, and there is clearly a focus on energy security and supply, and also on looking at alternative forms of energy generation.”
“The PFG process has been a consultative one, and that is a good path to take to ensure that what we are trying to achieve as a Government is relevant to the needs and priorities of those that we legislate for. <BR /> <BR />The current draft out for consultation has acknowledged responses to the first consultation which called for more inclusion of energy. It specifically states that other respondents call for a strengthening of position in relation to housing, the environment, water and energy. We have taken on board those views in this latest version of the programme. In this draft, there are particular mentions of the importance of secure, sustainable and cost-efficient energy within outcome 1, which is to promote a strong, prosperous and regionally balanced economy.”
“However, we also have further challenging targets in terms of the 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emission by 2050 and, under the 2015 Paris agreement, to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. Those will require commitments to a much-lower-carbon economy, and therefore we need to look at how this can be achieved and ensure that the policy and practical basis for this are in place. <BR /> <BR />In terms of what the motion is calling for, as has already been outlined, the Committee has a focus on the development of energy policy, and I am sure that will inform the Department's future energy policy direction. Specifically with regard to the Programme for Government, it is my understanding that the PFG is based on outcomes and indicators rather than priorities.”
“She stated that, due to the unpredictable nature of wind, there should be a mix which includes both renewable and thermal generation, and that, in her opinion, there is potential for offshore generation of energy and that further scoping of marine sources such as wave or tidal energy is necessary. <BR /> <BR />Here in the North, we are committed to various targets on greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy generation, and that requires a policy direction. Under the EU renewable energy directive, there are legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 through renewable energy generation. The overall target is 16% energy from renewable sources, with a 40% target for electricity. According to various stakeholders, we are on course to meet this target.”
“<BR /> <BR />The closure of the NIRO and the renewable heat incentive (RHI) leaves us with currently no renewable schemes, but the Utility Regulator highlighted last week the fact that these were very successful in incentivising the uptake of, particularly, onshore wind. When I questioned her about the future direction of renewables policy, she indicated that there needs to be a focus on a mix of new technologies around generation and storage. Renewables will obviously have a part to play in that. The regulator indicated that, in her opinion, onshore wind has been maximised in the North, and there needs to be a better use of the renewables that we have to maximise their use on the grid.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important issue. I believe that we all share the concern around energy costs. Energy affordability and security of supply are clearly very important aspects of our economic development, both for indigenous companies and also to attract FDI. Indeed, at last week's Economy Committee meeting we heard the Utility Regulator outline the potential for investment in the energy market itself. We need a very serious look at our energy policy. As my party colleague and the Chair of the Economy Committee, Conor, has already highlighted, it is a key issue for the Economy Committee, and we are carrying out an inquiry into energy in the new year.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It would seem that there was quite significant discussion on food waste, which we need to have a bit more of a focus on. There are some very good examples of good practice in other EU states. Will the Minister tell us what measures, relating to how the issue is dealt with in other jurisdictions, he feels could be applied here?”
“With reference to paragraph 14, I welcome the LEADER cooperation event that took place and the opportunities to discuss cross-border projects in the rural development programme. Can the Minister provide an update on the event and outline what steps her Department will be taking to facilitate the process of cross-border applications?”
“Last week in his statement, along with the Minister of Finance, the Minister outlined that the apprenticeship levy was of no benefit to the North, and again today he said it was a bad thing. Will you make that case to the British Treasury?”
“— the importance of harmonising farming practices with good environmental management and provide adequate support for the sectors of farming that struggle to be profitable on the land available to them. Achieving —”
“It is my belief that any future strategy must encourage sustainable production and best agricultural practice, have a strong focus on —”
“It is difficult to see how that could be achieved, certainly in the shorter term. Indeed, many predict that, without subsidies to farmers, food prices would escalate to cover the cost to producers. <BR /> <BR />There is also the issue of trading and of competing with the EU, as recognised by the House of Commons paper on the policy impacts of Brexit. It highlights the uncertainty around the kind of future CAP that UK farmers will be competing with, as the policy is currently being simplified and will be reformed for 2021. <BR /> <BR />Therefore, the signals coming from the British Government are not encouraging. The Minister has her work cut out for her to develop a strategy that will secure the future of our agri-food industry under the finances available from the British Government.”
“From our perspective, I guess that, if we were being optimistic, we could take comfort from the recognition in his comments that some types of farming will need to be supported, but the overall sentiment on the level of budget being directed towards farming supports is far from encouraging. <BR /> <BR />Earlier this month, George Eustice, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister, outlined his vision of the future farming policy under five basic criteria, which included promoting food security and maintaining a high standard of animal welfare. In his final criterion, he stated that, if farmers were given a fairer share of the value of the supply chain, they would not need the subsidies that they now depend on. That point is more than a little bit ambitious.”
“He went on to say that the Government would protect payments to unprofitable hill farmers but other areas were "likely to change". He said:”
“The same importance and policy priority is not placed on agriculture by the British Government, who have repeatedly argued, including in the previous CAP negotiations, that direct payments do not represent value for money. <BR /> <BR />In October of this year, George Freeman, the chairman of the Conservative Party policy board, said that once people realise how much cash was being sent spent on farming subsidies, they would want it to be diverted to hospitals, unless Ministers could make a strong case for how the money was being spent. Referring to farming subsidies post Brexit, he said:”
“These are entirely relevant to our farmers still, and many of the stakeholders, as Linda outlined, have presented to the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, again and again, outlining the need for fair prices and market stability. They also highlight the need for continued support to farmers and the importance of environmental schemes. <BR /> <BR />I am sure that many of the issues that are being raised currently in terms of the priorities for the agri-food sector post-Brexit will form part of the negotiations over the direction of CAP post-2020. However, the difference is the policy objective of those doing the negotiating. The importance of agriculture has always been a priority for the EU. Part of the criticism of CAP is the amount of the EU budget that goes towards it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Continued levels of support must be ensured to secure the future sustainability of farming and the agri-food industry. For Sinn Féin, the best way to ensure it is through the negotiation of special circumstances for the North to remain as part of the EU in an all-island solution. That has been our consistent position. In that scenario, the North would remain subject to the common agricultural policy and current system of payments, which is in place until 2020, when the new arrangements will be negotiated. There are, of course, many critics of CAP and some criticisms are genuine, though I doubt that many would disagree with its overall objective, which is to:”
“I am pleased to contribute to the debate, and I support the motion. I believe that the development of the strategy to ensure the future sustainability and, indeed, survival of one of our most important sectors must be a priority. The contribution of the agri-food sector to the economy of the North is outlined in the motion. Though I will not rehearse it, it most certainly must not be understated. Our farmers depend very much on payments received, which amount to some £265 million per year in basic payments. The single farm payment, and other payments such as those from the agri-environment schemes and the areas of natural constraint (ANC) scheme, ensure that farmers have the means to survive. Without those, as Mr McGlone outlined, farm incomes would have been negative last year and in four of the five previous years.”
“Will the Minister give an update on any discussions that his Department is engaged in with the community and voluntary sector on how it can support the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Fresh Start panel report?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. That is very positive. Will the consultation also include public meetings so that people can make contributions in that way?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. What will the impact of the loss of that direct flight be in the short term?”
“— and work to create a climate that embraces and supports economic development.”
“It serves as a reminder for us of the need to work towards political and economic stability where possible, and also of the need for us to ensure fairness throughout our supply chains. It also shows the challenges that we may face over the next months and years as the outworkings of the EU referendum unfold, and we will need to be champions of our businesses —”
“I had the privilege of working with mushroom growers the length of the country. As you may know, the Irish mushroom industry is being decimated as a result of the plummet in the value of sterling. The Irish mushroom industry, North and South, had become very much streamlined over the past 20 years or so, and those who remained in it are hard-working, dedicated professionals who have embraced new technologies and innovation. They are the epitome of the type of entrepreneur that we need to be encouraging. However, they work in an industry of very tight margins, and it is an industry that is strongly interdependent, North and South. Businesses are under pressure right across the country. The current economic climate is such that it is making some of their businesses unviable, and that is deeply concerning.”
“Encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit is one thing, but putting in place the practical measures and support to make it happen is key. It includes a need to have adequate infrastructure in place right across the North, with road networks, broadband, mobile phone networks and access to energy supply. <BR /> <BR />We are facing uncertain times as a result of the EU referendum, so it is even more important that SMEs and other businesses be offered reassurance in ways in which that can be offered. Obviously, global economic factors are outside our control, but we must do all that we can to ensure that our SMEs are as efficient and competitive as possible. <BR /> <BR />Prior to being elected, I was a research scientist working in horticultural research, specifically in applied mushroom research.”
“That may mean an attitudinal change on behalf of parents and teachers alike to enlighten young people about the variety of opportunities available to them. <BR /> <BR />PwC client experience of small local companies indicates that businesses that have experienced growth are more likely and willing to engage in upscaling. Some 73% of businesses here are sole traders, so even taking on one employee is growing their business. Scaling up of businesses is something that we will need to focus on. Mr Storey said that we will need to help businesses realise their ambitions. It is important that businesses be empowered to be ambitious, that they have access to finance opportunities and that the policy framework for, for example, business rates is conducive to expansion. We need to encourage more businesses to want to grow.”
“Improvements in protocols and new product development are important steps in enabling business development, and those can be addressed through financial support measures and access to expertise or consultants. There are programmes already in place in this regard. It is important, however, that those are continued and expanded on and that businesses and individuals are made aware of the opportunities available to them. <BR /> <BR />Skills cut across many sectors, from hospitality to retail and from engineering to trades such as construction. We need to ensure that the curriculum offered addresses the skills need and, more importantly, that our young people are encouraged to pursue the types of career pathways that will provide a skilled workforce into the future.”
“As well as an annual decline in the number of businesses registered here since 2009, there has been a marginal decline in the percentage of total turnover to the SME sector. Political and economic uncertainties, skills shortages and access to finance and marketing have been highlighted as barriers to growth for local companies. Mr Storey also outlined some other challenges. There is a direct correlation between innovation, exports and skills and productivity, growth and sustainable job creation. Many of those can be tackled with strategic measures aimed at the SME sector. <BR /> <BR />A couple of weeks ago, we discussed the importance of exports, but enabling businesses to grow also means investing in support for R&D and innovation.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion, which, of course, I am supporting. The contribution of SMEs to the economy of the North is well recognised. To underpin economic growth, we need to grow our private sector, and, with more than 99% of our private sector businesses being SMEs, enabling the growth and development of the SME sector will be vital. SMEs, as Mr Storey pointed out, account for some 75% of private sector turnover and 75% of employment and will be responsible for 89% of new job creation in the private sector up to 2018. All of that highlights the importance of the sector to our economy. <BR /> <BR />The SME sector, like every other, has faced difficulties over the past number of years.”