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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“Therefore, it is the right thing for us to do.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The next step is for me to write formally to the Speaker to outline my intention to put the petroleum exploration and licensing (repeal) Bill before the Assembly on 24 March. It is my intention that that Bill will pass into law during the current mandate. The Bill will introduce a permanent ban on issuing licences for all forms of onshore petroleum exploration and production, including fracking. The Bill is an important step in supporting our decarbonisation journey, and it aligns with the Climate Change Act's emission reduction targets, the policy direction set in the energy strategy and the conclusions of independent research. Exploration for oil and gas would run contrary to those commitments and is unlikely to bring meaningful benefits to the local economy or consumers.”
“I thank the Member for her question. She is quite right: the past 48 hours have, again, demonstrated how our reliance on fossil fuels impacts on people's pockets. Therefore, it is important that we continue the work to transition away from fossil fuels and ensure that there is a genuine just transition in that regard. <BR /> <BR />The linking of the two schemes is work in progress between the British Government and the EU. We are being kept updated on that, and officials are engaged in understanding what that will mean, including any cost impacts, although we do not believe that there will be any. It will be a positive initiative and will be very welcome, but, as I say, it is work in progress.”
“In leading that theme, we will collaborate with other Administrations to share experiences and learn collectively from our challenges and successes. <BR /> <BR />I commend the statement to the Assembly.”
“People must be able to understand and experience the benefits of new energy technologies and systems in their everyday lives: stable energy prices, warmer homes, cleaner air and good jobs in their communities. They must have the opportunity to form citizen energy communities where local energy generation and consumption contributes to renewable energy sources and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, while increasing social and community engagement and delivering local economic benefits. Ownership of clean, affordable, renewable energy is essential to reducing energy poverty, and those energy communities play a crucial role in the energy transition, as they help to create a sustainable and just energy future for us all.”
“I welcome and endorse that draft forward work plan and fully support its direction. The priority areas identified — public acceptance; just transition; supply chains and skills; and peer review — certainly align closely with the challenges that face our Administration. It is a practical, focused plan that recognises that accelerating decarbonisation requires not only technology and investment but public confidence, consumer buy-in, skilled people and strong supply chains. <BR /> <BR />I am particularly pleased that we will lead the theme of public acceptance. Our energy strategy places people at the heart of the transition. Public support cannot be taken for granted.”
“That project is exploring the potential of the natural heat beneath our feet — work that should lead to heating homes, public buildings and businesses using clean, indigenous heat. I was especially encouraged that we hosted the energy work sector meeting in February 2024. Officials from the other member Administrations visited the Titanic Quarter in Belfast and had an opportunity to experience a commute on a Translink hydrogen bus and to visit CATAGEN and Artemis, which showcased the development and implementation of world-leading innovation in net zero technologies. Those companies represent the ambition of our region and the economic opportunity of the net zero transition. <BR /> <BR />Ministers also discussed and agreed the themes of the next forward work plan.”
“We also reviewed and endorsed a new work plan. The 'Energy Work Sector 2022-2025' policy report paper reports on activities since the previous meeting in February 2022. The themes are decarbonising heat; offshore renewables, including wind, marine, grid and interconnection; new and emerging technologies, including hydrogen and carbon capture in storage; and local and community energy. The policy report paper also demonstrates the real value of the work sector in sharing learning, identifying challenges early and building momentum together across these islands. I take this opportunity to commend the extensive work that has taken place across the four themes over the past three years. <BR /> <BR />I was also pleased to see the report highlight the GeoEnergy project — a flagship geothermal demonstrator that we launched in 2023.”
“In accordance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make a statement on the British-Irish Council (BIC) ministerial meeting in energy work sector format, which was held on Thursday 12 February. The British Government in London hosted the meeting, which was jointly chaired by the British and Scottish Governments as co-chairs of the energy work sector. I attended the meeting, virtually, along with Minister Lyons who attended as the accompanying Minister. The meeting brought together Ministers with responsibility for energy policy to consider how the eight member Administrations can continue to work together to address shared challenges. <BR /> <BR />Ministers discussed and reviewed the 'BIC Energy Work Sector 2022-2025' policy report and the work sector's activities across the period.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“As I indicated, I believe that the British Government should change their approach and should ensure that appropriate resource funding is made available to ensure that those organisations can continue to provide their vital services.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Finance Minister leads on the issue in engaging with the British Government, and he has also been engaging with all the relevant Ministers, because we are all really concerned about the impact. There is a significant funding shortfall. We obviously have a very constrained funding environment.”
“I referenced the issue to other colleagues earlier. I am hugely concerned about the approach of the British Government to the local growth fund. That concern is shared by all the Ministers around the Executive table. We know of the impact of the organisations across our community and voluntary sector who support some of our most vulnerable constituents with training and employability work. We have been collectively making the case that there needs to be a change of approach from the British Government in how they have broken down the funding and split the capital and the resource, which in no way meets the needs of our local communities. There is still time for the British Government to change their approach, and I urge them to make sure that that happens.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I too have received correspondence, perhaps from elected representatives, in respect of that issue. I do not have the detail before me, but, if the Member wanted to correspond with me, I would be happy to provide him with detail on that and provide signposting for his constituents to resolve the issues.”
“I thank the Member for her question. She is right: it is comprehensive legislation. The Office of the Legislative Counsel is working diligently to complete its drafting. Obviously, all parties around the Executive table will have the opportunity to ensure its speedy progression. Of course, once it is in the Assembly and goes to the Committee, it is over to the Committee to ensure its passage through the Assembly in the speediest way possible. Obviously, we anticipate that it will be properly scrutinised. That is, of course, what we want to see, but we also want to see it complete its passage before the end of the mandate. I see no reason why that should not happen, but there are stages of its progress that are in the hands of others. I encourage them to move it along as quickly as possible.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I have a paper before the Executive with the detailed policy proposals in relation to the 'good jobs' Bill. As the Member will be aware from when I was at the Committee a few weeks ago, we anticipate that the drafting of the Bill will be completed by the end of March or early April. At that point it will go to the Executive for approval before being introduced to the Assembly. We are hopeful that we will get progress on that as quickly as possible and have the Bill before the Assembly before the summer recess.”
“As I have reflected previously, it is important that we take on board learnings from elsewhere and ensure that interventions are set at the right level to encourage people to incorporate renewables and energy efficiency measures. The consultation has been completed, and we are now moving to the stage of developing the support. All of those issues will have to be taken into consideration in what is set out and consulted on.”
“I thank the Member for the question. As I outlined to Mr Wilson in a previous response, we published the consultation report just a few weeks ago. Officials are in the process of developing proposals for how we will support domestic households in respect of energy efficiency. Those proposals will go out for consultation later in the year.”
“The research team at Stranmillis is committed to engaging broadly and ensuring that lived experience, as well as operational reality, is reflected in its findings. Indeed, stakeholder engagement will be central to the research, with the views of Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Gaelchúrsaí, further education colleges, training providers, awarding organisations and, crucially, young people being taken into account. The researchers will consult relevant officials in my Department and the Department of Education. They will also consult our counterparts in Wales and in the South to ensure that we draw on best practice in comparable minority language models. That will ensure that the research recommendations are practical, evidence-based and grounded in real experience.”
“The findings from that research will help to inform future policy development in my Department and ensure that the available pathways are fit for purpose and genuinely accessible to Irish-medium learners.”
“who access vocational pathways. I am pleased to say that, with today's announcement of a new research project, I am delivering on that commitment. The research will help to ensure that learners who choose to study through the medium of Irish have equitable access to the skills that they need to support their learning and development. Importantly, the research will help us to better understand the challenges that Irish-medium learners face and where the system can be strengthened to support them. The centre for research in educational underachievement at Stranmillis University College will undertake the study. Its expertise will allow us to map current provision, identify barriers and benchmark against best practice in Wales and in the South.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The 'Skills Action Plan', which I published last October, includes a clear commitment to:”
“We have a long-established and important trading relationship with the United States. Despite the recent disruption and uncertainty that has been created by tariffs in particular, it remains one of our biggest trading partners, with an export market worth £1·4 billion. Many of our local businesses choose to establish operations in the US, supported by Invest NI. That is why, in a small number of weeks, I will make my third visit to the US as Economy Minister, going to San Francisco and Los Angeles. As I mentioned, that visit will be in partnership with Invest NI, NI Screen and Tourism Ireland and will focus on trade, tourism and screen opportunities for the North with businesses, tour operators and the film industry on the west coast of America.”
“<BR /> <BR />I was disappointed to see, over the weekend, the president's response to the ruling, introducing further tariffs that will once again exacerbate complexity and uncertainty in trading with the US. I have engaged again with the British and Irish Governments to seek urgent clarification on the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling, particularly in relation to the agreements that have been made. I, along with my officials, will continue to monitor the situation in partnership with my tariff working group to understand the implications for local businesses.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Unfortunately, we have had a really uncertain landscape created over the past year. I was pleased to see the US Supreme Court's ruling that the tariffs that had been imposed on so-called Liberation Day were not lawfully enacted, but, while many Administrations and businesses rightly welcome that development, it creates further uncertainty. I continue to make the case that tariffs create uncertainty and added costs for businesses. They are bad for businesses, bad for workers and bad for consumers. In all my engagements on tariffs, I have reiterated that message time and again and have heard it time and again from businesses that are navigating the really volatile trading environment that we have all experienced since last April.”
“I thank the Member for her question. It is another case of looking at what we can do within our current remit. We always keep open the potential for other types of intervention. Regional balance is reflected in our Programme for Government. All Departments are responsible for ensuring that they take forward initiatives that support the delivery of more effective regional balance. As I said, I look forward to engaging with the content of the Member's Bill and being persuaded by her arguments as to why it is necessary.”
“I thank the Member for her question and for her birthday wishes. In my previous engagement with her, I remained open to looking at the Bill once it was published, so I look forward to seeing the proposals in it. Obviously, I have statutory responsibilities in relation to the Department for the Economy. I have set out a direction of travel, with regional balance as one of the four priorities and a number of work streams flowing from that. However, I look forward to engaging with the Member on her Bill.”
“The engagements were an excellent opportunity to discuss the direction of travel of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression and its business plan as well as to identify opportunities for both language commissions to strengthen language provision across departmental services and economic programmes. The introductory meetings provided an opportunity to establish constructive working relationships, to hear about the commissioners' respective roles and priorities and to discuss my Department's statutory duties and areas of responsibility. <BR /> <BR />I remain fully committed to working closely with the commissioners and relevant partners, going forward, to advance language development, promote inclusion and ensure that everyone can engage effectively with the services and opportunities that my Department provides.”
“I recently met both language commissioners, as well as the director of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, to discuss how we can strengthen cooperation and ensure a coordinated approach across our respective responsibilities. Those engagements provided an important forum to consider how my Department can better support linguistic diversity, improve the accessibility of services, and ensure that our policies and programmes reflect our statutory language commitments.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill, which will give the Department the power to bring forward regulations to close the scheme, is at Committee Stage. The Department has completed a public consultation on the policy proposals for the closure regulations that will accompany the Bill. A report on the outcome of the consultation has been published. Subject to passage of the Bill through the Assembly, my Department is working towards bringing the closure regulations before the Assembly, with the aim of having the closure arrangements in place prior to Ofgem's departure at the end of June.”
“I thank the Member for her question. That was consulted on last year, and we hope to be in a position to publish the outcome of that consultation in a few weeks' time.”
“I thank the Member for his question. It is important that we take cognisance and learning from the experiences of other jurisdictions where similar schemes have been implemented. We are looking at what is the most appropriate form of support and how we administer it to households. That will form part of the consultation later in the year. The Executive's energy strategy commits to funding the retrofitting of buildings. In that context, my officials are developing a domestic energy efficiency and low carbon heat programme that will replace the NI sustainable energy programme (NISEP), which provides part-funded support for the installation of energy efficiency measures and heating solutions, and is targeted at lower-income households. Again, we want to take on board the learnings from where that has been really quite effective.”
“My Department published the Government response report to the consultation on support for low carbon heating in residential buildings on 26 January. The consultation findings highlighted a preference for domestic properties to undergo an energy assessment as part of a future scheme. Such an approach offers a clear starting point for keeping a household well-informed about their options and how different retrofit solutions may work for their circumstances. The method and approach for providing a home energy assessment will be considered as officials design a support scheme for energy efficiency and low carbon heating in residential buildings. My Department will publish a public consultation regarding the scheme design later this year.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I updated the House previously that Fáilte Ireland is evaluating the effectiveness of the Ireland's Ancient East brand. As far as I understand, that evaluation is not complete. When it is, I will continue to engage with Fáilte Ireland on the extension of that brand. There are huge opportunities for the inclusion of Counties Armagh and Down in particular, but also counties further afield, in that brand offering. The inclusion of those counties, and the many attractions that they have, would add significantly to what is currently on offer through the brand.”
“Yes, I will travel to the US in the next few weeks, at the beginning of March, and the focus of my trip will be the promotion of trade, tourism and our screen industry. I will travel to the west coast, and I will be joined on the trip by Tourism Ireland, NI Screen and officials from Invest NI.”
“That represents a direct investment of £861,000 via the scheme, and, with matched funding, it means a total investment of £1·12 million in local tourism businesses. Those developments will strengthen the appeal of the attractions and the two iconic routes while encouraging visitors to further explore the regions, stay longer and spend more, boosting our local economy and supporting local communities.”
“I thank the Member for the question. As the Member will be aware, the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway coastal route are being linked through a Shared Island Fund collaboration project that includes research, marketing, joint signposting and a small capital grant scheme to enhance attractions along those iconic routes. <BR /> <BR />The coast-to-coast investment scheme is the first cross-border funding scheme that the three tourism agencies have taken forward together, and the announcement of the successful applicants was made last week. A total of 13 projects have been approved across the two jurisdictions, with five projects along the Causeway coastal route receiving capital funding: the Giant's Causeway, the Derry Girls Experience, the Gobbins, the Museum of Free Derry and the Courthouse, Bushmills.”
“Evidence from previous Tourism NI marketing campaigns indicates that, for every £1 spent, £60 is spent in the local economy. <BR /> <BR />In January, Fáilte Ireland aired in the Southern market a TV commercial promoting Fermanagh as part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Tourism Ireland will continue to promote the brand and to work with local partners on overseas campaigns.”
“The licensing agreement to include Fermanagh in the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brand was announced in December last year. I am pleased that 45 local businesses have already signed up to it. <BR /> <BR />I have since provided £300,000 of additional support to Tourism NI for a targeted marketing campaign that launched on 16 February. It showcases a range of Fermanagh businesses, such as the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel and Blakes of the Hollow. The campaign is underpinned by 26 special offers from the industry to encourage tourists, demonstrating its commitment to the opportunities provided by the campaign. Across Ireland, the campaign will generate almost 27 million opportunities for it to be seen, reaching 58% of adults. The campaign will run until 31 March and will be fully evaluated.”
“Along with Executive colleagues, on 22 January, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, urging him to address that situation. There is still time for the British Government to secure the future of Go Succeed and other projects supported by the Shared Prosperity Fund, but they need to act now.”
“I thank the Member for her question. As I said to Mr Stewart, Go Succeed is a hugely successful element of our local business support landscape. In the past three years, over 10,000 entrepreneurs have been supported to either start or grow their business. In line with my commitment to regional balance, Go Succeed is delivered in every region across the North. <BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, the future of that vital service is now at risk due to changes in the British Government's local growth fund. The local growth fund contains much less resource funding than its predecessor, the Shared Prosperity Fund. As a result, Go Succeed and other projects that were supported by the Shared Prosperity Fund face a critical funding shortfall.”
“I do not think that that is correct. As I said, a number of the councils have had their action plans approved. They have received letters of offer, which they will be claiming against before the end of the financial year. There has been a considerable amount of activity undertaken over the past year to set up local economic partnerships and develop action plans. We are now getting into the phase in which money will be spent on delivering programmes. I know that all our councils are really keen to ensure that that happens as quickly as possible.”
“Alongside that, I recently set up an entrepreneurship co-design group to encourage the development of further entrepreneurial activity. We will produce an action plan on that in the very near future.”
“I thank the Member for his question. One of the reasons why we put in place the local economic partnerships was to bring all the relevant partners to the table and to encourage the development of local plans and priorities. Our enterprise agencies are key to achieving that, and they are involved in all those efforts. I agree with the Member about the important work of our enterprise agencies. Very often, they are the first point of contact for many individuals and for many businesses that are looking to start up or expand. I am really concerned about the British Government's direction of travel with the local growth fund, and we continue to engage with them on that. I am keen to work with our local enterprise agencies and councils to find a way forward.”
“I am delighted that all 11?local economic partnerships are up and running, with several action plans having?recently?been approved, including those for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council. My officials will continue to work closely with all partnerships on the delivery of their action plans, and we hope to see those action plans being approved in the coming weeks.”
“The subregional economic plan, which was published in October 2024, set out a new strategic approach to economic development that is locally led and has a mission to deliver regional balance. A key element of the plan was greater collaboration with councils and stakeholders through the creation of local economic partnerships (LEPs), alongside a £45 million regional balance fund to support the work of the LEPs. <BR /> <BR />Departmental and Invest NI officials have been working closely with economic development units in the 11 councils and have provided support, advice and guidance throughout the development of the local economic partnerships.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am on record as expressing my concerns about prioritising funding for the militarisation agenda instead of prioritising it for vital public services or for R&D on, for example, supporting our life and health sciences sector or developing new green tech and agri-tech solutions that will help people live longer and healthier lives. Those are the things that we should be prioritising in our public funding.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Along with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, I recently engaged with the senior leadership of Airbus and committed to supporting its efforts to expand here. I have corresponded with the Secretary of State in London on that. We are hugely supportive of such an expansion, as it would create more good jobs and strengthen the aerospace sector.”
“My intention is that the framework will be operational within the current mandate.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The development of my ethical investment framework is under way. Officials are using the UN's 'Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights' as the foundation to ensure that the framework reflects recognised international standards. While Invest NI is a key delivery partner, my intention is that the framework will apply across the Department and its core delivery bodies in due course. Its purpose is to strengthen the North's trading position by ensuring that there can be no suggestion that companies operating here are engaged in unethical activity. The framework will be taken forward through a formal policy development process that will include consultation and the opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders to provide their views.”