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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“Was it not enough that prices were rising and staff retention was an issue or that they faced exorbitant energy and rates bills? The increase in the minimum wage and National Insurance contributions may well be the final straw that leads to many hospitality businesses closing their doors. In addition, as referenced earlier, the hospitality sector relies on many young, part-time workers. Figures show that 63% of jobs in the accommodation and food sectors are part-time, and those employers will be particularly exposed by the lowering of the threshold for employers' National Insurance contributions. <BR /> <BR />Hospitality and tourism account for over 77,000 jobs here and, together, contribute nearly £2 billion to Northern Ireland's economy. The proposals in the Budget served only to decimate that already struggling sector.”
“It is good to hear unanimity in the Chamber today. I wish to address my comments specifically on the impact that the increase in National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage will have on the hospitality and retail sectors. Indeed, I have been lobbied by those sectors in my constituency to use my voice to raise the problems that they face. However, it must be noted that industry stakeholders consistently report that the increases will be catastrophic to an array of sectors in Northern Ireland, particularly the community and voluntary sector, as we have heard, at a time when businesses and community and voluntary sector organisations need support and not challenges. <BR /> <BR />The hospitality sector, in particular, has been brought to a cliff edge by the changes.”
“Men are sometimes overlooked on the issue of surgical mesh. Will the Minister detail what engagement there has been to address the issue of hernia mesh?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome his condemnation of the security hoaxes and the steps that he is taking. I want to press the Minister on the issue of communication with parents and stakeholders in the event of any unfortunate security alerts in the future. What steps will he advise taking in such circumstances?”
“Is the same consideration given to visitors with limited vision?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your response. What is the long-term strategy for AI development in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. He will understand that there is much anxiety and apprehension in the community because of the changes. Minister, will you outline what engagement you have had with your Executive colleagues about mitigating the welfare changes?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Does the Minister agree that, if we are to maintain Northern Ireland's biosecurity, more monitoring should be conducted at our borders?”
“I want to turn back to science and research. What initiatives has DAERA taken to increase the number of women and girls pursuing a career in science and research?”
“It will require significant investment in infrastructure and more consistent government support. It is essential that the Department for the Economy engage with UK counterparts to ensure that we get the necessary investment to build on this fast-moving green technology. Most importantly, any investment must have the skills base to support it, because, without the necessary foundations in skills, we will miss the opportunity. Therefore, any strategy must encompass a pipeline of apprenticeships to support skills and sustainable jobs in the hydrogen sector. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland can continue to drive such innovation and become a global leader in hydrogen development, but it is essential that funding schemes and incentives for businesses, including SMEs, back up the advances that are already being achieved.”
“It moves away from fossil fuels and unlocks the possibilities for a cleaner, carbon-free transport network. On that point — it was alluded to by David — the former US envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy took particular interest in the green technologies and hydrogen development that were happening, particularly in the work of Mannok, when he was in Fermanagh. To help to boost that work in our local firms, a dedicated hydrogen innovation strategy would help to develop a new industry; offer hydrogen-specific apprenticeships, leading to skilled jobs; grow export opportunities; cut emissions in transport; and leverage renewable energy potential to sustain our energy security. <BR /> <BR />There are, no doubt, challenges that we must be aware of. If not managed well, hydrogen energy could be costly.”
“Wrightbus has pioneered the first hydrogen bus, which, as it is adopted further across the world, will, due to zero emissions, improve air quality and offer a case study in how we can better utilise hydrogen not just in our transport networks but in industries across the economy. <BR /> <BR />In my Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency, Mannok — a building products firm — has set out an ambitious 2030 sustainability strategy that aims to reduce emissions and make its business more sustainable. Its green hydrogen project targets a 7·4% reduction in emissions, and it foresees that its hydrogen strategy will help to decarbonise 50% of its fleet by 2030. Hydrogen, when used effectively, has the potential to revolutionise our transportation system.”
“I thank my Economy Committee colleagues for tabling this meaningful motion. Hydrogen energy is an opportunity to transform our energy consumption, pave the way for a low-carbon future and position Northern Ireland at the front of the green economy. Local firms are already working towards Northern Ireland's path to net zero energy action plan, with the aims of low-carbon and affordable energy in mind. Hydrogen is a clean fuel, so it is imperative that we ensure that Northern Ireland is not left behind in hydrogen investment. It provides a gateway not just to our environmental goals but to supporting highly skilled jobs and sustainable economic growth. In Northern Ireland, we can witness that innovation at first hand. We can take pride in companies such as Wrightbus, which was mentioned by Jonathan Buckley.”
“I raised that with then Minister Murphy in October last year, as I believe that every effort should be made to maximise renewable generation on our grid in the five years to 2030. <BR /> <BR />There is agreement that we must achieve 80% renewable energy by 2030. That is less than five years away, and it is increasingly acknowledged that that target cannot be reached by 2030. The foundations needed to achieve that should have been signed and sealed by now. I may not agree with the sentiments of our Chancellor at Westminster, but she is cutting the red tape and wants to unleash the potential in the sector. Can Northern Ireland follow suit? That is the question that we need answered. <BR /> <BR />On that note, I thank the signatories to the motion, and I will support the balanced amendment from the DUP.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department for the Economy must acknowledge the amount of power generation that comes from smaller projects. Almost 205 megawatts or 15% of current wind generation in Northern Ireland is from projects under 5 megawatts. Therefore, the insistence on a 5 megawatt entry point for the scheme will lead only to a stagnation in generation due to complications and bottlenecks in planning across Northern Ireland. My party supports the call for lowering the scheme's entry point to projects that are greater than 1 megawatt.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is no secret that Northern Ireland has found success in renewable energy generation, but that success is being held back by inadequate planning and infrastructure and the dark cloud of the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme. If we are serious about our commitment to green energy generation, we must recognise that it will not deliver itself through words alone. Projects need long-term planning and, of course, the finance to support the transition. Therefore, it is imperative that the Northern Ireland renewable energy support scheme, the renaming of which as the renewable energy price guarantee is now proposed, is delivered, but it needs to be balanced, fair and transparent. It also needs to support smaller projects, even with financial assistance.”
“I thank the proposer of the motion. We all agree that a green energy transition is vital to help us to reach our climate targets and fulfil our statutory commitments as agreed by the Assembly. The climate crisis that we face is bleak, and it calls for action. It is right that we aim to increase our renewable generation prior to 2030. However, we need to make sure that we approach it in a way that means that consumers do not pay the price in pursuit of those goals and that the savings promised are delivered. I share the concerns raised in the amendment proposed by my DUP colleague. The costs to support the transition need to be evaluated and accounted for.”
“I thank the Minister for considering rural roads in the forthcoming scheme, if it is implemented. Minister, there have been a number of reported near misses at Fivemiletown Primary School and Nursery. Will the Minister advise how much weight is given to schools that are located on A roads?”
“I join others to commend the teachers and staff who are connected with the community and voluntary playgroups, which are an integral starting point in the early years education journey for our young children. <BR /> <BR />Therefore, I appeal to the Minister to work carefully and in consultation with rural communities, which may feel the brunt of the standardisation roll-out, while seeing limited benefits until there is a fuller roll-out.”
“I admit that they are mostly from west Fermanagh and not West Tyrone, but, like others, many feel dissatisfied with the process and worried about the upcoming years. Members have clearly articulated the impact not only on the incoming children but on the staff and beyond. <BR /> <BR />I have raised my concerns with Chris Scott, the chair of the preschool education group, but the debate is a welcome opportunity to do so again in the Chamber. The reductions in numbers in rural areas, such as West Tyrone and my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, will have a knock-on effect not only on employment for those who dedicate themselves to early years education but on the families who are seeking to get their children into their local playgroup.”
“I am concerned about those who have been impacted on by recent reductions in admission numbers in West Tyrone and beyond. Those changes have been primarily driven by adjustments to early years education funding. The funding pressures in the early years that have been on display in recent years have, once again, shone a spotlight on the fragility of our early years set-up in Northern Ireland. I am conscious that the Minister has a plan for early years education with the roll-out of the standardisation programme, which I support, but I am concerned that paying for such a scheme will be to the detriment of the smaller rural playgroups. <BR /> <BR />I have been contacted in recent weeks by numerous playgroups that have received their pupil allocations for the upcoming academic year.”
“Thank you to the Member for securing the Adjournment debate. I hope that she does not mind my making a few brief comments on the topic. She will understand that it is an issue that faces many community playgroups across the west of the Province, and it impacts, of course, on Fermanagh as well. There are many similarities between West Tyrone and my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, given their rural peripherality and strong community ethos. Not wishing to fall foul of your direction, Mr Speaker, I will focus my remarks on the recent reduction in admission numbers for community and voluntary playgroups across the west. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right to talk about the EA cap, as many people are concerned about it.”
“There is a need to find a solution that makes agriculture not only a safe space for women but a sustainable industry that encourages even more young women to get involved. <BR /> <BR />While I was doing my research, Minister, I looked at some statistics and was surprised to see that they classified farmers and their spouses. In that particular instance, however, when I searched for "women", they were not included in the search mechanism. That is something to take on board: that women can stand as their own entity. <BR /> <BR />I commend the motion, and I am happy to support the amendment.”
“That is why I am happy to support the motion, which calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs:”
“Gone are the days when young farmers' clubs were boys-only, as many girls are now getting stuck into tractor driving, milking and lambing and, in many cases, doing it better than the boys. For Vicki, public bodies need to take action to support agriculture across the board. <BR /> <BR />Farming families have been getting it tough for too long. The onus is on the Assembly to take forward the recommendations from the 'Breaking the Grass Ceiling' report in order to help to even the playing field for women and recognise the contribution that they make to the industry, all while tackling the issues that face agriculture as a whole. <BR /> <BR />From the challenges of TB to rising costs and the disastrous inheritance tax plans, farmers are crying out for public representatives who care about their views and their livelihoods.”
“Vicki Byers, from Ballinamallard, is one such farmer. She married into the industry but has rolled up her sleeves and learned all the tools of the trade, despite not coming from a farming family. She has even built up a social media presence on Instagram in the process. Vicki has experienced all the challenges of being a woman in farming from a lack of support groups to the male-dominated culture. She has even experienced men on social media telling her that she is doing her job wrongly. For Vicki, that culture is a huge burden on women in farming. All she wants is for her role to be recognised in parity with male farmers, as she does just as much work. <BR /> <BR />Thankfully, there is scope to be positive. Vicki says that plenty of young girls who are interested in a career in agriculture are coming through the ranks.”
“The women whom I speak about today are not simply farmers' wives; they are vital assets and, without them, their farms would struggle to function.”
“A change in attitude is required to move away from the traditional male dominance of the farming industry. <BR /> <BR />As a representative for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, which is a huge rural constituency, I will give you the voice of one of the farmer's wives in Fermanagh and let her speak and contribute to the debate.”
“I welcome the motion and thank Áine and her colleagues for bringing it forward. The barriers facing women in agriculture in Northern Ireland are well documented, and we have heard some very eloquent representations today. <BR /> <BR />The Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey, which was referenced in the 'Breaking the Grass Ceiling' report of 2022, states that women comprise only 22% of the agriculture workforce in Northern Ireland, which is less than the UK average. Women also report a lack of access to funding and training and are often left with more caring responsibilities, which continues to discourage their progression in the sector. However, the biggest challenge is one that simply cannot be changed by just adding more money to the pot.”
“Do you believe that DAERA has the necessary measures in place to properly police such measures, as only one incident has been detected in Northern Ireland, which seems rather low, given the severity of the situation?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, in a response to a question for written answer in January, you confirmed that your Department had only:”
“Minister, it was disappointing that representatives from DFI did not attend the meeting this morning to give us their thinking on what can be done in the form of a solution. Will the Minister engage directly with the Department for Infrastructure to expedite this and find a solution?”
“Alarmingly, Northern Ireland is still one of the most dangerous places in western Europe to live as a woman, with 20 women having been killed as a result of domestic homicide since 2020. As the change-makers in this place, we must also ensure that we are working for a better and safer future for all. I hope that our contributions today will encourage even more women to step up and make their voices heard, whether that is in the political arena, the business community or civic society. When women thrive, Northern Ireland thrives. <BR /> <BR />I thank each and every one of the Members who has spoken today. Their contributions were all powerful and passionate testimonies from women who are fighting for their communities every day. It is a real demonstration of the strength and determination of women across Northern Ireland.”
“Also, women who have given up their career to take on caring responsibilities find that, if and when they re-enter the workplace, they will have lost skills, career progression paths and important pension contributions for their future financial security. That is grossly unfair. Deep-rooted gender norms continue to influence women's opportunities and choices. Women remain under-represented in STEM subjects, partly due to gendered expectations in education and career guidance. However, the recent provision of apprenticeships in those sectors that is aimed specifically at female intakes is a positive and constructive development. <BR /> <BR />Violence against women remains a major issue. In Northern Ireland alone, there were over 33,000 recorded domestic abuse incidents in 2023, constituting 20% of all reported crimes.”
“Women feel the challenge in their career when they choose to start a family, with the knock-on effect that that may have on pay and progression. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency reports that 67·9% of women are in part-time employment and that about 31% of working-age women are economically inactive, often due to caring or family commitments. It is profoundly shocking that Northern Ireland has the highest rate of economic inactivity among women in the UK, and a contributory factor to that has to be that we do not have adequate and affordable childcare provision to support women in the workplace.”
“However, there is still much more work to do to reach the 50:50 representation that is reflective of demographics in Northern Ireland. Indeed, I am the only female MLA in my party, which is a shame, as I know so many vibrant, successful women in our party who could make a great contribution in this place and would be welcome here. <BR /> <BR />Women's voices are important in shaping the society that we all want to live in, so the challenge for all of us here today is to lead and create the conditions to allow others to follow into leadership and decision-making roles so that women's voices are equally represented. As women, we all know that our gender still faces disparities in the workplace and in career progression.”
“I support the 2025 International Women's Day campaign theme, "Accelerate action", and I thank the chair of the Women's Caucus and its members for tabling the motion. <BR /> <BR />Despite progress in recent years, as others mentioned, women still face significant barriers and biases, particularly in areas such as employment, caregiving responsibilities, gender norms and violence against women. In the Northern Ireland Assembly, we have seen remarkable progress in women's political participation. Today, we have a First Minister and a deputy First Minister, three Ministers and two junior Ministers who are women, but we also have 36 women MLAs, which is almost 40% of all MLAs. That is progress. In my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, four of the five MLAs are female, and it is great to see Áine here as well.”
“I will support the amendment, which my DUP colleagues put forward.”
“I want to see a balanced and comprehensive approach, as envisaged by the subregional economic plan, that will yield growth and success for everyone across Northern Ireland. I commend the north-west's business, arts, culture, hospitality and tertiary education sectors for their success and ambition to date and for their cross-border cooperation. I want to see that success mirrored in other regions of Northern Ireland, which are evolving at a different pace. The north-west has so much to offer, and with recent funding allocations of £300 million from the city and future fund deals, plus the additional £10 million that was announced this morning, the region is in an advantageous position to spearhead growth and job creation. <BR /> <BR />I thank the proposer for bringing the motion to the Chamber today.”
“<BR /> <BR />To ensure that the north-west succeeds, we must focus on proven initiatives that drive regional growth, including cross-border trade. The city deal in the north-west and the Mid South West growth deal in my constituency provide the tools to help unlock opportunities for businesses. That is why we campaigned for them. After the threat to the Mid South West deal, we fought collectively to reinstate it. However, as an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I feel that the continued focus on the north-west will be to the detriment of other regions in Northern Ireland, not least my own. The south-west in general feels a prevalence of indifference to escalating investment and job opportunities compared with that experienced by its counterparts east of the Bann.”
“However, promoting the benefits of dual market access for specific and specialist sectors when that is, as yet, unproven is damaging to our economy, to business confidence and to finding a solution. We cannot work on the premise of unevidenced findings. Dual market access may seem to be appealing, but, in practice, as outlined by the Chair of the Economy Committee, it presents regulatory and trading challenges, especially with the Irish Sea border. Furthermore, in a time of global uncertainty and potential US tariffs on the UK and EU markets, Northern Ireland could face significant difficulties, given that it is part of both the single market and the UK market. That is evident from my discussions with businesses in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. The Opposition's disregard for that is surprising.”
“I appreciate the fact that our Opposition colleagues have tabled the motion for debate today, and I thank the junior Minister for attending. If I stray into the realms of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, which I intend to do, I hope that it does not take us too far off course. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I will say that I do not believe that any of us, for one moment, underestimates the economic opportunities available across Northern Ireland and the potential for transformation of the north-west. We all fully support that. We all recognise the economic importance of our business sectors and understand that more must be done to focus on regional growth across Northern Ireland.”
“However, we must start to see delivery of and accountability for those commitments and, importantly, a Budget framework that matches the targets.”
“The competitive nature of the jobs market and continued demand for specialisation and skills hold many businesses back from expansion, as the workforce simply is not there. <BR /> <BR />As many of you may know, a passion of mine is the tourism sector. Growing up in and being a representative for the Fermanagh lakelands, I feel passionate about the forward-looking face of tourism and how pivotal it is in demonstrating all that is good about our country. That is why it is hugely welcome to see it highlighted in the Programme for Government, with an investment of £1·3 billion to stimulate regeneration and tourism across Northern Ireland. That follows the publication last month of the tourism strategic action plan. <BR /> <BR />The Programme for Government represents a positive step forward in outlining the Executive's commitments.”
“More and more young people avail themselves of them, and, given that International Women's Day falls in this week, it is important to highlight the fact that more and more women avail themselves of apprenticeships and to train in sectors in which, traditionally, men were often the dominant participants. The fund is necessary to bridge the growing skills gap in Northern Ireland. Countless businesses tell me that they cannot get the skills that they need to grow. Investing in apprenticeships is an investment in our future, and I know that many colleagues feel the same. In addition, the investment in the skills fund is a welcome commitment and will be the spearhead that is needed to deliver the skills needed to boost the economy and tackle low productivity by upskilling and reskilling the workforce, particularly women returners.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Programme for Government contains commitments and actions that are needed to deliver a competitive, productive and sustainable economy. It is essential that our economy be given the tools and opportunities to grow and prosper, and some positive avenues for delivering that are available in the Programme for Government. I particularly welcome and will watch closely developments in the apprenticeship inclusion challenge fund, the skills fund and the tourism strategic action plan. They are key areas of interest for me and will help to streamline and promote growth for the next decade. There is a growing trend of and enthusiasm for apprenticeships.”
“I thank the First Minister and deputy First Minister for bringing the motion to the House. Many of us across the House understand the significance of the Programme for Government and the importance that it has in our role as legislators working hard to bring positive change to all our constituents and communities across Northern Ireland. There can be no doubt in anyone's mind, however, that the ambition and the commitments in the Programme for Government are not reflected in the Budget. I am concerned that many of the commitments may not be delivered, especially without adequate resources and long-term strategic financing through multi-year Budgets. That said, as my party's economy spokesperson and, more important, as an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I will add some positive commentary.”
“Fixing the many profound health problems that challenge our oral health will not be quick, and it will certainly not be easy. Instead, it will take a period of sustained policy intervention, and, while some MLAs may be reluctant to acknowledge it, it will take sustained investment. For as long as the Executive and Assembly continue to pass Budgets that fall short of independently verified levels of health need, I worry about how those sustained interventions will be delivered. Nevertheless, I encourage the Minister and his officials to continue to work with our dental colleagues to deliver the improvements in dental access that patients require. <BR /> <BR />I thank Members from Fermanagh and South Tyrone and other constituencies for contributing to the Adjournment debate.”
“I welcome the re-establishment of the enhanced child examination scheme, which provides children aged nought to 10 who have not registered with a dentist with an examination, as well as offering direct and impartial oral health advice and an age-specific fluoride application to teeth to prevent dental decay. Again, however, parents are, regrettably, telling me that, more generally, access for children remains a challenge. <BR /> <BR />I know that tackling health inequalities is a strong area of interest for the Minister, and I am sure that the stark inequalities that exist in oral health have not been lost on him. All the indications suggest that areas of high deprivation have much higher rates of tooth decay than wealthier areas.”
“The new dental access scheme was given a not insignificant budget of £4 million, and, whilst it has helped many people across Northern Ireland, unfortunately, there is still room for further progress in the south-west. Regrettably, the number of practices signing up in our area has been low, and, whilst the Department cannot force practices to participate, I urge the Minister to continue to impress on his officials the need to proactively identify a suitable provider. After all, people in the rural villages and townlands of Fermanagh and South Tyrone deserve no less than the dental options available to their urban counterparts. <BR /> <BR />A further dental issue that continues to cause me concern is the state of children's oral health.”