Diana Armstrong
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, thank you for your comments on the passing of Tom Frawley, which were befitting of a man of his stature. I, too, send my sympathy to his family.”
“Much is said about working towards regional balance in our economy. What assessment has been made of the geographical spread of PEACE PLUS funding? Can you provide assurances that rural communities are not being left behind in favour of urban centres, which have much more capacity to apply for that funding?”
“I mark a truly remarkable milestone in my home town of Enniskillen: the 350th anniversary of Enniskillen Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest Presbyterian communities in Ireland, with roots stretching back to the 1640s and the arrival of the Scottish settlers in Fermanagh during the plantation of Ulster.”
“The uproar that followed shook the General Assembly for a generation. The congregation was reproved, petitioned and visited by commission after commission, but they refused to move. It took until 1896 for the matter to be settled, and, now, music is accepted in all churches.”
“Nessie's warmth, shown towards a young teacher who had arrived knowing nobody, made all the difference. That is what community means. It is a story of continuity for generations of families, whose generosity and faith have shaped the church that we see today. It has always been my church.”
“It is a reminder that the roots of global stories can often be traced right back to a small community in Fermanagh. <BR /> <BR />Three hundred-and-fifty years is a long time, but what endures is not bricks and mortar: it is the warmth, the welcome and the service to others that has defined that congregation across the centuries.”
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“— progress on the vision plan being slow. Minister, will you provide an update on the expansion of gynae services at the hospital?”
“Minister, thank you for your comments on the passing of Tom Frawley, which were befitting of a man of his stature. I, too, send my sympathy to his family. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I welcome the progress that is being made on the business plan, albeit the pace is frustrating, and share with fellow elected reps for Fermanagh and South Tyrone a sense of there being a need for further clarity and straighter answers on what is really happening. Any engagement that is taking place on the ground has certainly not come to me. <BR /> <BR />Minister, we are almost 12 months on from your intervention in July of last year. I am pleased that the SWAH is becoming a major centre of elective care, despite —”
“Much is said about working towards regional balance in our economy. What assessment has been made of the geographical spread of PEACE PLUS funding? Can you provide assurances that rural communities are not being left behind in favour of urban centres, which have much more capacity to apply for that funding?”
“It is a reminder that the roots of global stories can often be traced right back to a small community in Fermanagh. <BR /> <BR />Three hundred-and-fifty years is a long time, but what endures is not bricks and mortar: it is the warmth, the welcome and the service to others that has defined that congregation across the centuries. I wish them every blessing as they step forward to the next chapter.”
“Nessie's warmth, shown towards a young teacher who had arrived knowing nobody, made all the difference. That is what community means. It is a story of continuity for generations of families, whose generosity and faith have shaped the church that we see today. It has always been my church. I have fond memories of attending with my parents, and it is the special place where I was married. The Gamble family name also runs through the story like a thread. Rev Josiah Gamble became minister there at just 21 years old, in 1799. His nephew James went on to co-found one of the world's most recognisable companies, Procter and Gamble. Recently, a blue plaque was unveiled on the Enniskillen street where that connection is proudly marked.”
“The uproar that followed shook the General Assembly for a generation. The congregation was reproved, petitioned and visited by commission after commission, but they refused to move. It took until 1896 for the matter to be settled, and, now, music is accepted in all churches. That shows something rather wonderful about the spirit of quiet determination. <BR /> <BR />Theirs is also the story of people marked by deep commitment, including the seven members of that congregation lost in the Enniskillen bomb in 1987. Their memory is carried in the church's beautiful memorial window, and they remain part of the fabric of the community. One of those lost, Nessie Mullan, was described by the church's own speaker as the reason for her first feeling at home in Enniskillen.”
“I mark a truly remarkable milestone in my home town of Enniskillen: the 350th anniversary of Enniskillen Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest Presbyterian communities in Ireland, with roots stretching back to the 1640s and the arrival of the Scottish settlers in Fermanagh during the plantation of Ulster. So beloved has that heritage been that the church has carried the affectionate nickname, "the Scots church", ever since. <BR /> <BR />A history spanning 350 years is extraordinary. What strikes me most about the congregation's story is that it is, at its heart, a story about people. It is a story of people who stood firm in the face of controversy, including, famously, in the great harmonium dispute of 1861, when a group of ladies introduced the first such instrument into any Irish Presbyterian church.”
“Thank you for the response, First Minister. Will you outline the further steps that you will take to address the cultural drivers of misogyny identified by the Church leaders in recent reviews to ensure greater accountability and coordination in tackling gender-based violence?”
“Minister, as we move towards July and the further lowering of the VAT rate for food and hospitality in the Republic of Ireland, the hospitality sector is looking at changing its operating models to address what it sees as a situation that is almost perilous to the operation of its businesses. How will you monitor the impact that that will have on businesses in the short, medium and long term, and what steps can the Department take to assist those businesses?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome, as colleagues from Fermanagh and South Tyrone have done, the imminent release of 15 new two- and three-bedroom houses on the Old Eglish Road. The size of those homes is important. <BR /> <BR />Although rents are set at 20% below market rates, many households on low incomes still struggle with affordability. What safeguards are therefore in place to ensure that those houses will remain genuinely affordable in practice over time? How will the Minister prioritise access for those most in need, rather than those who are simply able to meet the income thresholds?”
“Minister, you said that there would be no financial burden on councils in carrying out their scrutiny and actions. I represent an area with lots of small villages. In many cases, there are buildings in a severe state of dilapidation. Can you assure me that, in the exercise of the councils' duties, the weighting given to those small villages will be equal to that of the larger conurbations?”
“An important and valuable training programme was referenced in the question. I welcome the collaborative approach with universities. Minister, how does the Department monitor the uptake of dementia training across different sectors?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. I note the work to address climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Were measures to protect the marsh fritillary butterfly discussed at the meeting, given that the species is protected in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland? If not, could the matter be put on the agenda of future meetings?”
“However, the Justice Minister must also now engage to develop a greater understanding of the issues facing Fermanagh and Omagh Women's Aid and its hugely straining operational demands. So many rural services feel forgotten, and, despite the Executive's commitment to ending violence against women and girls, those services are struggling to see how they have been supported locally. I urge the Executive to intervene. Meaningful investment, engagement and support are now paramount to ensure that protection and awareness measures are implemented robustly and that women and girls across Northern Ireland feel that they have somewhere to turn in their darkest hour.”
“Raising awareness of the issues has been successful, but increased disclosure has, in turn, led to an increased demand for support. Unfortunately, there just has not been the corresponding investment to respond to the epidemic adequately. Shockingly, more women and girls are waiting for support than are actively receiving a service. The situation is simply unsustainable. If we are encouraging those affected by domestic abuse to come forward, it is unacceptable that we do not have the capacity to assist them when they make that brave step. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Mike Nesbitt MLA, as Health Minister, has visited Women's Aid in County Fermanagh and has seen at first hand the issues facing those rural communities.”
“I will highlight the urgent plight of front-line domestic abuse services in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, particularly Fermanagh and Omagh Women's Aid, which is facing critical pressures to ensure that its services remain viable and available. <BR /> <BR />Ending violence against women and girls is a key priority that we all share. Organisations like Women's Aid are on the front line dealing with education and prevention and assisting those affected. Those organisations are seeing an unprecedented increase in the need for their services, with Women's Aid having to refocus the organisation towards crisis response and safeguarding to the detriment of increased awareness and preventative activity.”
“Minister, thank you for your response. How do you see the balance between the Housing Executive and housing associations evolving to deliver social housing over the next decade?”
“The REPG scheme, combined with urgent action on grid capacity and offshore wind, can finally position Northern Ireland as a competitive, modern and sustainable energy region. Let us ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated and that the opportunities of the future are not missed. I welcome the Final Stage of the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill and the chance to put the scheme behind us once and for all.”
“Northern Ireland urgently needs a credible renewable energy policy framework that matches the scale of global competition. Investors are already looking to jurisdictions with clear pathways for great capacity expansion, offshore wind deployment and long-term renewable integration. If we do not act quickly, those investors will go elsewhere. We need a grid capable of supporting large-scale renewable generation and a planning system aligned with our energy ambitions. We also need an offshore policy that signals to the market that Northern Ireland is serious about becoming a leader in, not a slow adopter of, clean energy. <BR /> <BR />Closing the RHI scheme is a necessary step, but it must be the first step in a much larger journey.”
“The reality is that, in its current form, the non-domestic RHI scheme cannot deliver the strategic outcomes that Northern Ireland needs. <BR /> <BR />Accepting closure is not an admission of defeat; it is an acceptance of reality and an opportunity to move forward. Closure of the scheme opens the way for the development of the renewable energy price guarantee (REPG) scheme, which must be designed with proper scrutiny, robust modelling and transparent governance. If the Department for the Economy gets the REPG scheme right, it can provide the certainty that investors need, the stability that businesses require and the environmental outcomes that our climate commitments demand. However, a new scheme alone will not be enough.”
“<BR /> <BR />Let us not forget the impact that the scheme had on boiler owners who participated in good faith and were penalised and misaligned. To them, I say this: I trust that the effort that the Committee and its members have made to recognise the need for restitution for you is acceptable. The Economy Committee has had to intervene in an attempt to regulate the scheme. Tiered tariffs, banded thresholds and annual payment caps have been introduced to prevent further overspend. Cost control regulations, technical audits and revised accreditation rules have been implemented. Each measure has been necessary to stabilise a scheme that had become financially unsustainable and reputationally damaging. Even with those corrective steps, however, the scheme has never fully recovered public confidence.”
“I support the Final Stage of the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill and thank the Minister and the Department for bringing us to this important stage in the process. <BR /> <BR />It is important, however, to set out clearly how we arrived at this point and why the process is now the only credible path forward. The original non-domestic RHI scheme was introduced with the intention of stimulating renewable heat generation, but, as Members know and as we have heard in the Chamber, the design flaws were significant. The absence of tiered tariffs, the lack of cost controls and the failure to link payments to fuel efficiency created a perverse incentive structure. The result was a scheme that grew far beyond its budget and far beyond its policy intent.”
“Northern Ireland needs both sustainability and growth. We cannot strengthen our tourism sector, attract investment or support our business community if we dilute the very measures that would deliver that growth. <BR /> <BR />Belfast City Airport is already one of the most important economic assets that we have. With the master plan, it can become the beating heart of a modern, outward-looking Northern Ireland; one that is connected, competitive and confident. This is a moment for ambition and to back private investment, job creation and Northern Ireland's place on the global stage. The UUP supports the motion, rejects the amendment and commits to a stand-alone strategy that ensures that Belfast City Airport reaches its full potential.”
“A one-size-fits-all aviation strategy will not deliver the targeted support that is required to attract more based aircraft, expand early morning and late evening connectivity to major hubs, grow domestic routes by the forecasted 68% and compete with Dublin for European traffic. We need a stand-alone strategy that recognises Belfast City Airport's unique role as the economic engine of our aviation system. <BR /> <BR />While I welcome the amendment's recognition of sustainable aviation and the importance of connectivity, it removes the core ambition of the master plan. It strips out the commitment to double the workforce, deliver £1·7 billion in economic benefit and expand our route network. It removes the call for Ministers to bring forward concrete proposals to support the master plan. In short, it replaces action with aspiration.”
“The airport remains fully compliant with its 2019 planning agreement, which already contains the most stringent environmental controls of any airport in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Although I welcome the Department for the Economy's ongoing aviation policy consultation, it is simply not enough. Belfast City Airport is not interchangeable with other airports. It is our central hub airport: the airport that, as I said, connects us to Heathrow, Schiphol and the wider world.”
“They represent apprenticeships, supply chain contracts and new opportunities for young people. They represent a stronger, more competitive Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The master plan is an infrastructure project that positions Northern Ireland for the future. It proposes a terminal expansion, new airport stands and aprons, surface access improvements, a new on-site hotel and, most significantly, the first direct rail link to any airport on this island. That rail link alone would be transformational. It would reduce congestion, cut emissions and finally give Northern Ireland the kind of integrated transport system that every other modern economy takes for granted. Crucially, all that growth is achievable without any runway extension.”
“<BR /> <BR />The reality, however, is that 27% of Northern Ireland passengers still travel through Dublin Airport, largely because they cannot access the European routes that they need from airports here. That is lost revenue, lost jobs and lost opportunity. The master plan directly addresses that gap. Independent forecasting — the same forecasting used by the Department for the Economy — shows demand for Belfast City Airport rising to seven million passengers a year by 2040. Meeting that demand would generate £1·2 billion in gross value added (GVA) annually for Belfast and £1·7 billion in GVA across Northern Ireland, support over 23,000 jobs and unlock £200 million of private investment. Those are not notional figures. Rather, they represent real jobs in aviation, hospitality, engineering, tourism, logistics and professional services.”
“I thank the signatories to the motion for tabling it. The Ulster Unionist Party will support the motion. <BR /> <BR />I strongly welcome the Belfast City Airport master plan 2040. It is not simply an airport document but a strategic economic opportunity for Northern Ireland on a scale that we cannot afford to ignore. Last year, Belfast City Airport handled almost 2·4 million passengers, over 90% of whom were domestic travellers, so the airport connects Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK. No other airport on this island plays such a central role in sustaining our economic, social and political links with Great Britain, and, critically, the airport already provides international connectivity through major hubs such as London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol, giving our businesses and people access to global destinations.”
“I welcome both and ask the Assembly to keep believing in what such schools can do, because history tells us that their results can be truly remarkable.”
“Those are not lucky accidents: those young people were given a chance, teachers who believed in them and schools that opened doors for them. That is the point that I want to make. The funding announced last week matters not just as bricks and mortar but as a promise to the next generation. Somewhere in Enniskillen right now there is a child who could be the next great writer, the next rugby international or the next James Gamble. What we owe that child is simple: we owe them a great school, teachers and staff who are supported and a building fit for learning. <BR /> <BR />Last week showed us that Enniskillen remembers where it came from. The blue plaque for James Gamble is a mark of pride in our past, and the new school funding is a mark of belief in our future.”
“In 2016, Portora Royal School and Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar School came together to form Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. The students who walk through its doors today are the heirs to all that history.”
“Neil Hannon, the singer and founder of the Divine Comedy, is another Portora man. Dr Denis Burkitt, who identified Burkitt's lymphoma and changed the lives of countless children across the world, was educated there too. In sport, Jimmy McCoy wore the green jersey of Ireland in rugby from1984 to 1989, winning 16 caps and playing in the Rugby World Cup. The sporting tradition runs deep. Today, the school's rowing club is one of the best in the UK and Ireland, with two Olympic coaches leading the next generation on the waters of Lough Erne. <BR /> <BR />Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar, as the first girls' grammar school to be built by a public body anywhere in Northern Ireland, has its own special place in history. That alone tells us something about the ambition for and belief in young women that the town has always had.”
“Last Wednesday was a special day for Enniskillen. On 29 April, the Minister of Education announced funding for a new build for Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. On the same day, a blue plaque was unveiled in honour of James Gamble, the man from Enniskillen who went on to co-found Procter and Gamble, one of the biggest companies in the world. That is no small thing. <BR /> <BR />That is Enniskillen's story in one day, and it got me thinking about what Portora Royal School and Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar School — Enniskillen Royal Grammar School as they are today — have given to the world. Between them, they have produced truly remarkable people. Oscar Wilde walked the halls of Portora, as did Samuel Beckett, and they are two of the greatest writers that the English language has ever known.”
“Ultimately, that raises questions around consumer bills and departmental budgets, issues that deserve full Assembly scrutiny within comprehensive energy legislation. <BR /> <BR />Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I know that we are short on time, but it is for those reasons that I urge caution at Second Stage. I call on the Minister to reconsider whether the approach strengthens or complicates energy governance in Northern Ireland.”
“We are clearly coming to a point where an energy Bill encompassing policy and interconnectors, offshore renewables, hydrogen and battery storage, as well as others, along with enhanced consumer protection measures such as those that exist in Great Britain, should be in place. That is precisely the problem. Decarbonisation is transformational. It requires a coherent, transparent and accountable energy Bill, setting out governance arrangements, advisory structures and regulatory roles, not piecemeal extensions of powers through narrow stopgap legislation. <BR /> <BR />There is also the public purse issue. While the explanatory and financial memorandum suggests that costs may be recovered through licence fees, it is clear that alternative funding mechanisms could be required.”
“That ambiguity is not insignificant. <BR /> <BR />We must also consider duplication and overlap. The Climate Change Act provides for a just transition commission. The Consumer Council already has a statutory advisory role on energy impact for consumers. The Bill does not clearly explain how potentially conflicting advice would be managed or how those bodies would interact in a joined-up way. <BR /> <BR />I am particularly concerned about the incremental approach being taken. The Department has been clear that the Bill is only a first step, with further legislation, offshore renewables, hydrogen smart metering and licensing to come, though not in this mandate.”
“Its core purpose is to protect consumers, ensure value for money and regulate monopoly networks. Drawing it directly in with the preparation of decarbonisation policy risks blurring the lines between independent regulation and Executive policy development. Indeed, the Assembly's Research and Information Service highlights that some consultation respondents raised exactly that point, and it risks pulling the regulator into territory that properly belongs to Ministers and the Department. <BR /> <BR />There are also unresolved questions about how that qualified power would operate in practice. The regulator must comply with departmental requests as far as reasonably practical, but the Bill does not set out what happens if advice conflicts with the departmental policy direction or if the regulator considers a request inappropriate.”
“The Bill formally extends the regulator's functions to include providing decarbonisation-related advice, information and assistance to the Department for the Economy at the Department's request. Others have spoken of their concerns about the conditions expressed in the proposed legislation. <BR /> <BR />My concern is not about the expertise. There is no question that the Utility Regulator holds deep, technical knowledge of the energy system, as acknowledged in the Minister's foreword. However, with governance accountability and institutional boundaries, I ask the Minister whether we can expect the regulator to now offer advice to other Departments, such as the Department for Communities on poverty issues, or DAERA, as referenced by others. <BR /> <BR />The Utility Regulator is and should remain an independent economic regulator.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I will be brief. <BR /> <BR />I support the Bill's passage at Second Stage and welcome the move towards decarbonisation to meet our statutory obligations. There is no doubt that decarbonisation is urgent and necessary. The Department for the Economy carries significant statutory responsibility under the Climate Change Act, so I acknowledge the intent behind the Bill. However, while I recognise the motivation, I have concerns about how the Bill proposes to proceed. It is a narrowly drafted Bill, containing a single substantive clause, yet it represents a significant shift in the role of the Utility Regulator.”
“Our approach should be balanced and responsible, supporting sustainable development, encouraging innovation and ensuring that robust safeguards are always in place to protect citizens. By doing that, we can achieve long-term prosperity that is economically sound and socially just. <BR /> <BR />By supporting the Bill, we are choosing clarity, environmental responsibility and a long-term approach to economic development. The Bill is a measured and necessary step, and I look forward to examining it further in Committee.”
“Although some have pointed to the potential economic benefits of petroleum exploration, the evidence to date has shown those benefits to be limited and commercially unviable. <BR /> <BR />Set against the environmental risks and the strength of public concern, the Bill reflects a balanced and proportionate judgement. More broadly, it is about the kind of economy and society that we want to build. Northern Ireland's future prosperity will be defined not by onshore petroleum extraction but by sustainable investment and sustainable energy and by meeting climate targets through innovation and the responsible use of our resources. The Bill aligns with that vision.”
“In doing so, it removes ambiguity and ensures that environmental standards are not subject to shifting positions in the future. The Department has listened to the findings of the 2024 consultation, in which 95% of the 382 responses supported the preferred policy option of an eventual ban on all forms of onshore petroleum exploration and production. The Northern Ireland Executive approved that as the preferred policy option in December 2024. <BR /> <BR />It has been recognised through Committee scrutiny that the transition will be managed responsibly. The two existing applications will be withdrawn, and appropriate reimbursement will be provided. That is a correct and fair approach to take, as it provides clarity not only for communities but for those directly affected.”
“The UUP supports the Bill at its Second Stage and the clear direction that it sets for Northern Ireland and its energy ambitions. At its core, the ban on all forms of petroleum exploration and production in Northern Ireland recognises the importance of protecting our environment and of investing in renewable energy to provide energy security and sustainability. The risks associated with onshore petroleum exploration and extraction are well documented: groundwater contamination; biodiversity loss; threats to tourism, as Pádraig mentioned; and long-term environmental uncertainty. It is right that we take such concerns seriously and act decisively. <BR /> <BR />The Bill provides certainty. It moves beyond temporary measures and establishes a clear and consistent position, bringing to an end onshore petroleum licensing.”
“Although we agree with 90% of the motion, we cannot support a finger-pointing exercise in this place and one that underpins the illegality of a war that we are not involved in.”
“<BR /> <BR />At a time of severe financial constraint, Ministers should work collectively to identify savings, establish emergency support where necessary and focus on those who are under the greatest strain, including workers in domiciliary care who continue to do essential work while facing significantly higher travel costs. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I welcome the UK Government's action, including the extension of the British industrial competitiveness scheme to Northern Ireland and targeted payments for lower-income households. Those demonstrate that coordinated action between Westminster and Stormont can deliver real relief. <BR /> <BR />I will finish with the position of the Ulster Unionist Party on the motion and the amendment.”
“The delayed response from the Minister for Communities and the Minister for the Economy has unquestionably added to the pressures facing local households and businesses, particularly in relation to support for those who are reliant on heating oil. <BR /> <BR />The UUP acknowledges that the home heating oil scheme is welcome, but the delay in its implementation is surely indicative of the pace at which decisions are made in this place. We support the call for rural fuel duty relief as a time-limited measure to ease immediate pressures, especially for farmers who are facing spiralling fuel and fertiliser costs. Failure to act risks reduced agricultural output, higher food prices and long-term threats to food security.”
“The Ulster Unionist Party is focused on outcomes rather than political point-scoring. The reality is that the primary levers of taxation and fiscal policy lie with the UK Government, and it is right that Westminster is called upon to act decisively. Measures such as temporary fuel relief, duty reductions, windfall taxes, energy drives and targeted cost-of-living support are clearly matters for the Chancellor. That said, where devolved powers exist, they must be exercised responsibly and without delay. The Executive simply cannot pass the blame elsewhere. We have heard blame being apportioned widely here this morning in the Chamber.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is no question that the ongoing instability in the Middle East is exacerbating an already fragile situation. Global events do not occur in isolation, as we saw following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. International conflict quickly translates into higher prices at home. Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has again exposed how vulnerable our fuel supply chains are, with many people now restricting journeys to absolute essentials because of escalating costs. However, the debate must remain focused on the practical impacts for our constituents. We do not believe that it is helpful for the Assembly to seek to adjudicate on the legality of international conflicts. What is beyond dispute is that global instability has direct consequences for households, and it is those consequences that demand our attention today.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. We represent the same constituency, but we are slightly different in some ways. However, that is what people like, and that is what people elect us for. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and thank you, Deborah, for giving way. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that workers, families and business owners right across Northern Ireland face real and immediate concerns and pressures as a result of the rising living costs. While we have seen some easing in the home heating oil prices, those costs remain at over £900 for 900 litres, far above pre-March levels, and any downward movement is simply not happening quickly enough. That reality is putting severe pressure on household budgets and on the viability of many small and medium-sized businesses.”
“In 2012, she came to Fermanagh, opened the South West Acute Hospital and, away from the cameras, privately met families who had lost loved ones in the 1987 Remembrance Sunday bomb. No photographers, no headlines: just a woman of immense compassion letting those families know that they had not been forgotten. That was her character. <BR /> <BR />Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II gave a lifetime to service with dignity and grace. Back in 1940, she hoped that the children of that generation would make the world a better place, and perhaps what is most remarkable is that she did not simply wish for it; she lived it. She proved that one life lived with grace and purpose can truly make the world a better and happier place. She is gone, but she is not forgotten. We were truly fortunate to have known her reign.”