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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“The essence of the motion is about delivery and the recognition of the fact that early childhood development and learning is the foundation stone to building a society that values and supports every child through their formative early years, subsequent development and future life chances. It is also the foundation stone to building a fair society in which parents, particularly women, have the ability to stay in work or return to the workplace. I welcome the £50 million that was earmarked for early years and childcare in the Executive's draft Budget for 2025-26. This has the potential to be a watershed moment to deliver for our children and the prosperity of our people.”
“Minister, thank you for your attempts to soften the impact of the ETA scheme. Who will implement the controls on the ETA scheme to ensure compliance, should it come into effect?”
“I thank the Member for the intervention. <BR /> <BR />Gender-responsive budgeting requires collective engagement and consultation. By introducing comprehensive gender-responsive budgeting measures for the 2025-26 Budget, including thorough gender-impact assessments, proactive resource allocation and transparent monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, we can make significant strides towards gender equality. I will support the amendment to the motion.”
“However, section 75, which is open to interpretation by the Executive and each Department, does not guarantee equality in social and economic development. <BR /> <BR />Despite being one of nine grounds considered in a Budget, gender equality remains elusive, and deeply embedded inequalities persist. To move towards gender budgeting, our Departments must collect gender-disaggregated data to develop evidence-based policies. Stormont has the institutional and legal architecture to implement that, yet none of the Departments practises gender budgeting freely and willingly.”
“At its core, gender budgeting leverages fiscal policy and administrative procedures to address gender inequalities and promote the social and economic development of women. <BR /> <BR />In Northern Ireland, the statistics are stark. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency found 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. In contrast, the main reason why men are economically inactive is sickness. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of economic inactivity among women in the UK, yet we lack a comprehensive childcare strategy to support women returning to work. The Good Friday Agreement committed to improving women's public life and promoting equality of opportunity between men and women.”
“I thank the Opposition for tabling the motion. Recognition of gender-responsive budgeting is a vital tool in addressing systemic gender inequalities. Gender-responsive budgeting, as explained by the UK Women's Budget Group, is a way of analysing the Budget for its effects on gender equality. It aims to increase focus on assessing the impacts of spending and revenue-raising decisions on gender equality and adopt practices that can bring about equality between men and women. The approach raises awareness of the different impacts that publicly funded policies and programmes have on women and men at all levels of government. That strategy assesses the impact of government budgets and policies while striving to achieve social and economic gender equality.”
“Thank you for your response. Minister, do you accept that some individuals and farmers rely solely on seasonal work for their income and, as a result, earn less than the minimum income floor? What can the Minister do in such cases to support individuals whose income may fluctuate over a period of time?”
“Surveys show that there is a prevalence of traditionalist views among young males, predominantly among those who are in their 20s. Those views may be perpetuated due to peer pressure and environments in which they believe that it is manly to exercise power and control over others and that real men should not have to care about women's opinions or feelings. The influence of online pornography on young men and boys is also a determinant in the development of their attitudes towards women. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion. More work needs to be done to address young men's attitudes towards women.”
“I support the call in the amendment to the motion for the First Minister and deputy First Minister to work with the UK Government, on behalf of the Executive, to ensure that the new legislation protects victims of online abuse through the inclusion of appropriate sentencing for perpetrators and that it ensures that there is zero tolerance of deepfake generation in all its forms. Intimate image abuse is a national emergency that causes significant and long-lasting harm to women and girls, who face a total loss of control of their digital footprint at the hands of online misogyny. Women should not have to accept sexual harassment and abuse as a normal part of their online life. <BR /> <BR />In tandem with the introduction of legislation, the misogynistic attitudes of young men and boys need to be addressed.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is welcome that the British Government have responded to that form of abuse by indicating that, in addition to the Online Safety Act 2023, they will introduce the crime and policing Bill later this year, which will create a new offence of an individual taking intimate images without consent. Very often, victims have not consented to images and are not aware that they are being circulated. Threats to share the images with family and friends often lead to the further exploitation of victims and a sense of violation. The aim of the Bill will be to criminalise such behaviour so that the perpetrators can be caught and brought to justice.”
“I thank the Opposition for bringing the motion to the House. As others outlined, deepfake imagery is an image-based form of sexual abuse that has a horrific impact, as it is a deeply violating form of abuse that is predominantly targeted at women and girls. Cases of online violence and non-consensual deepfake imagery have escalated in an online environment where social media platforms' mechanisms to remove content offer limited redress to victims only after the harm has occurred. That results in profound mental and psychological distress for victims and impacts on their safety and well-being.”
“The onus of protecting women against violence and abuse has seemingly been left to women themselves. They police themselves on where they can and cannot go without someone knowing where they are or having someone go with them. <BR /> <BR />To address the amendment, there is a distinct need for consultation before implementation to ensure that pretrial jury education does not bias the jury. Moreover, consultation allows stakeholders and support groups to have input on important legislation, while providing educational content that is relevant and does not overwhelm jurors. There is a desperate need for consultation on the legal framework for reasonable belief in consent, as it can vary in interpretation, leading to inconsistencies in court rulings. Consultation helps to refine that definition —”
“It is imperative that we do not allow something as sick and gut-wrenching as organised grooming gangs to operate here. Those gangs and perpetrators of such heinous and depraved crimes must be apprehended and should face the full force of the law. <BR /> <BR />We desperately need transparency on what the Justice Ministry is doing to stop gender-based violence. That Ministry is the primary institution responsible for upholding justice and protecting citizens, so the answers must come from the Minister. Women and girls are terrified in their own homes and in their places of work and education. Those are places where women and girls should feel safe to flourish, but, instead, they must live in fear. In Northern Ireland, the PSNI receives a call related to domestic violence every 17 minutes.”
“We must legislate carefully and ensure that what is done is practical and is not rushed and impotent. <BR /> <BR />The experience of female students at university here shows that 67% of that cohort have had at least one unwanted sexual experience. That is not to mention the many victims of spiking in clubs or bars or those who are catcalled and harassed in the street after dark. Those actions represent a vile and pervading misogynistic underbelly that is prevalent in society. <BR /> <BR />There has been a systematic failure to safeguard women and girls on such issues. Indeed, we have seen just recently how, in England, victims of grooming gangs have been failed by the refusal of the Labour Government to set up a public inquiry.”
“I welcome the motion that has been moved in the Chamber this morning. Many Members have articulated clearly the horrifying impact of violence against women and girls, but it is a societal issue that, even with the parameters of the Assembly, we cannot truly come to grips with. <BR /> <BR />Twenty-five women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020. Worse than that, since 1996, 272 women in the Republic of Ireland have met a violent death, the most recent a woman in Ballyconnell. To her family I send my sincere sympathy. Those women are not just names; they were people with families, friends and lives to live that were brutally cut short. They must not be forgotten, and we must tackle the ever-rising rate of femicide. However, we cannot let emotions cloud our judgement.”
“Is it right, now, that those services should face threats to their sustainability? It is surely incumbent on the Labour Government to recognise the role of vital front-line services and to protect them where possible. <BR /> <BR />As it stands, the providers of some of our most important services, such as those that I have mentioned, face a great deal of uncertainty. Therefore, there needs to be absolute clarity on the definition of "public sector" adopted by HM Treasury. I will, of course, support the motion and the amendment. However, I call on the Minister of Finance to seek assurances from His Majesty's Treasury about the definition of "public sector", in order to ensure that those front-line services are protected from Labour's disastrous autumn Budget.”
“For instance, healthcare providers will be greatly affected by the rise in employers' National Insurance contributions. Amongst those are general dental practitioners, GPs, community pharmacies, care homes and hospices, all of which have voiced major concerns about the impact that the increases will have on them. As public contractors, any business that undertakes more than 50% public work is ineligible for employment allowance. <BR /> <BR />As has been highlighted by other Members, the additional costs imposed by the increase in National Insurance contributions threaten the long-term sustainability of many vital front-line services. Those were the very services that stepped up to the mark during the COVID pandemic, and, at the time, that underlined how much society depends on those services.”
“They are often dependent on public funding but do not have the same certainties and guarantees, such as day-to-day operational costs. <BR /> <BR />I will focus on public-sector employees. His Majesty's Treasury said at the time of the Budget that it would work with the public sector to support it with additional costs. It is assumed that recurrent funding will be received for 2025-26 to cover the costs. The Treasury has said that it is compensating public-sector employers for employers' National Insurance contributions bills through increases to their budgets, but there is a big difference between who is eligible and who really should be eligible. I would welcome clarity from the Finance Minister on the question of compensation for the public sector.”
“I thank the proposer of the motion. Like others, I support it. The motion highlights the urgent need to protect businesses and community and voluntary sector organisations that provide vital front-line services across Northern Ireland from the disastrous impact of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions. Many businesses are still struggling to process what that means for their long-term sustainability and for the future retention of employees. There is no doubt that a range of really important sectors will be adversely impacted on by the changes. That is particularly the case for sectors that have independent providers with large workforces, such as domiciliary care and the childcare sector, which was mentioned.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your earlier response. Do you accept that any future diminished investment in Enniskillen courthouse would threaten the fabric of the building and access to criminal justice in the future?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. However, do you accept that any future diminished investment in Enniskillen courthouse threatens the fabric of the building and access to criminal justice in the future?”
“Overall, however, the Minister is clear that there is still much more to be done. Therefore, is he satisfied that trusts have a clear understanding that challenges with productivity and activity levels will be monitored and tackled robustly by his Department?”
“Minister, I welcome the publication of today's plan, and I am pleased to hear about the "significant progress" that is being made on tackling waiting lists across more and more areas of our health service.”
“<BR /> <BR />I join other Members in paying tribute to Nexus and all similar organisations that work to support and protect victims of sexual abuse and abusive relationships. I commend the tireless efforts of all those who work with Nexus across Northern Ireland. Their dedication, compassion and resilience are the driving forces behind the progress that has been made in supporting survivors and combating abuse. It is incumbent on all of us to support the motion.”
“As a trusted organisation, Nexus provides counselling and compassionate aftercare so that victims can rebuild their lives. This evening, we have heard some really harrowing statistics that underline the demand on the services that Nexus offers. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we all build on the legacy of the last mandate, when the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, the Protection from Stalking Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 brought Northern Ireland into line with or, in many ways, put it ahead of other jurisdictions in regard to legal interventions to protect women and girls from violence, abuse and unwanted attention and to support victims.”
“It is not just a women's issue: as we have heard from other contributors, it is a societal crisis that demands urgent and decisive action from all of us. <BR /> <BR />In Northern Ireland, on average, a domestic abuse incident is reported to police every 16 minutes and a sexual offence every two hours. The awful reality is that, during the 12 months up to 30 April 2024, PSNI data reports that there were 4,090 sexual violence and abuse incidents in Northern Ireland. Nexus plays an important role in providing bespoke training for front-line officers in the PSNI whose role is to respond to rape and sexual abuse incidents. Over 500 specialist officers and serious crime officers have been trained by Nexus to date. That training is essential to building confidence in victims who are coming forward to report those incidents.”
“<BR /> <BR />There has been much work of late from Departments on that topic. The strategic framework to end violence against women and girls, which was launched by the Executive Office, serves as a powerful example of our collective dedication to that cause. The framework emphasises a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. It aims to prevent violence before it starts, support victims and survivors and change the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate abuse. Additionally, the domestic and sexual abuse strategy from the Departments of Health and Justice, which is designed around the pillars of partnership, prevention, support and justice, further strengthens our efforts. It is time that we addressed the root causes of abuse, provided the right support to those affected and held the perpetrators accountable.”
“As a new member of the Women's Caucus, I thank its chairperson for proposing the motion. <BR /> <BR />The 40th anniversary of Nexus is a significant milestone. For four decades, Nexus has been a beacon of hope and support for countless individuals impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. It has been at the forefront of that battle, providing a wide range of essential and therapeutic services to support women. In County Fermanagh, I am familiar with the work of Nexus, which delivers discreet counselling services and advice to meet a growing demand in the rural community. In remote rural areas, we have often seen victims suffer enduring isolation and violence due to peripherality. That means that many incidences go unreported and victims experience a lifetime of violence and fear as a result.”
“I welcome the additional funding, which has come as a lifeline for a system and a service that are under real strain. We must remember, of course, the families and young people at the heart of all of this. How important a partner is the community and voluntary sector in the delivery of the additional actions?”
“I will start by saying woo-hoo. We have actually got good news today in the Chamber: we have a housing supply strategy. Minister, I am delighted that you have brought this to the House. We have been waiting for it for a long time, given our housing crisis. Now that we have the draft Programme for Government, which outlines housing as one of the key priorities, and your housing supply strategy, have you done any work with the other Departments to ensure that they include a line for housing in their finances so that we can make sure that your strategy is a success?”
“We genuinely have to ask ourselves whether we want to see more investment in our public infrastructure, so that rail is available to every community in Northern Ireland, or rail fares as low as possible at the expense of those who do not have access to rail services. <BR /> <BR />It is ambitious to think that we can have both, but fares will have to remain fair to ensure that we have the necessary resources to expand the network, increase passenger numbers and ensure that we have a better interconnected and interlinked Northern Ireland where no community is left out. I therefore cannot support the motion but will support the broader amendment from the DUP.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention. I agree entirely with the sentiment that she has expressed. We need to have interconnected and interlinked infrastructure to facilitate economic growth and regional balance. <BR /> <BR />When I speak to my constituents, they ask, "Why are we forgotten?". The obvious response is, "The line to Enniskillen could cost over £300 million", but, when my constituents see over £340 million being spent on an integrated railway station in a city centre where there were already five railway stations, I cannot honestly say that the line to Enniskillen is not worth it.”
“It is safe to say that there was much astonishment at Fermanagh's omission from the review — the only county in the entire island of Ireland to be omitted from an all-Ireland strategic rail review. The review was seen as a way of addressing regional imbalance and inequality in our transport network, but it is clear that it lacked ambition. The Minister said that the decision would be reviewed in 10 years' time, but I doubt whether many of the projects in the review will be delivered within a 10-year time frame, so why not include Fermanagh now?”
“I thank the Members who tabled the motion and those who tabled the amendment. <BR /> <BR />I am an advocate of rail. It brings many benefits, and the provision of rail will build a better interconnected and interlinked Northern Ireland. That said, however, we need to see rail fares being reduced and more capacity on rail routes. Members will understand me when I say that, for the people of Fermanagh, we first need to see the re-establishment of a rail service in Fermanagh before I can support rail fare parity with the Republic. A comprehensive all-island rail service can go North/South, but it should also go east-west. <BR /> <BR />When the Minister proclaimed an all-island strategic rail review at Enniskillen Castle in August, there was much optimism that Fermanagh would be serviced by trains once again.”
“What progress has been made on rating reform to help SMEs in particular?”
“Minister, what strategies are in place to ensure that, once projects are completed, facilities are maintained properly and funded accordingly to prolong their lifespan?”
“DAERA is in a prime position to ensure that the Northern Ireland sheep sector plays a positive role in achieving the targets identified in the Climate Change Act. I look forward to hearing the Minister's comments on how that can be achieved. <BR /> <BR />It is an area of much uncertainty, and action from DAERA and the Minister is much needed. I want to work with farmers and stakeholders to ensure that a sheep support package is delivered and that the sector continues to generate high-quality produce.”
“The sector is already facing severe financial challenges, as the mover of the motion referenced, such as 17% funding from farm payments being directed to beef or suckler production systems, and ongoing health concerns, especially with funding for the surveillance programme of maedi-visna (MV) due to be ceased by DAERA. <BR /> <BR />It is important that the Minister and the Department take forward the work of the Northern Ireland sheep industry task force and set out a forward work plan to implement a strategic overview of the sector. The key themes should be resilience, productivity and sustainability, but capital investment is required to promote productivity and skills development for best practice land management.”
“I recently had the opportunity to call into a packed Dungannon Rugby Football Club as supporters of the Northern Ireland sheep sector met to discuss the potential challenges to the health status of and support packages for the Northern Ireland sheep sector. The event was attended by representatives from the pedigree and commercial sectors, veterinary surgeons from various practices and individuals from other sheep-related industries. It was clear that the message from that meeting was unanimous: it fully supported the National Sheep Association's call for current levels of funding associated with the sheep sector to be, at a minimum, maintained, or developed further.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the motion and the amendment. The importance of the sheep sector cannot be overstated. It is a cornerstone of our rural community and rural economy, particularly in less-favoured areas, where alternative agricultural activities are limited. Sheep farming has played and will continue to play a significant role in our agri-food sector, what with there being over two million sheep across Northern Ireland. Its contribution is immense, with over £95 million in agri output. It also has an important role to play in the context of the Climate Change Act, with environmental benefits, such as managed grazing, which enhances biodiversity, soil health and carbon sequestration, as has been mentioned.”
“Does the Minister accept that the figures attributed to the TB programmes are way out of proportion to those for sheep farmers, given that the MV surveillance programme cost little more than £200,000 last year compared with £50 million for the TB programmes? Is that fair and equitable?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Given that 13 months have passed since the previous Minister of Agriculture's proposal for a non-selective cull of badgers was overturned in a judicial review, when will your Department confirm its position on the matter?”
“I say it again: no farmers, no food. <BR /> <BR />There is a route to a just and fair policy. The Chancellor must raise the threshold and ring-fence farm funding. The Minister of Agriculture needs to work with the Finance Minister to introduce increased inflation-proofed multi-annual support for the agriculture sector. That would be critical to Northern Ireland's economy. Without it, food production will be at serious risk. Therefore, I support the call for the Agriculture Minister, along with his Executive colleagues, to urgently press the UK Government to reverse the policy and introduce a Budget that ensures long-term, ring-fenced and increased financial support for our farmers and the wider agriculture sector. <BR /> <BR />I thank the proposers of the motion, which I support.”
“Despite recent DAERA initiatives, namely the Farming for the Generations pilot scheme delivered by Rural Support, which I welcome, farmers are still not able to grasp succession planning. On the one hand, not having had to face inheritance tax in the past, farmers saw no urgency to plan for farm handover; on the other hand, they were encouraged to expand and borrow from banks in order to meet that expansion. Now with the Chancellor's Budget announcement introducing changes to inheritance tax and agricultural property relief, it is ironic that the expansion of herds and flocks will push many small farms over the £1 million threshold when they already struggle to meet repayments and investment, leaving an impossible burden on successors. The Chancellor's decision will decimate food production in Northern Ireland.”
“If the Labour Government are genuine in their calculations that the policy will affect only large farming estates, they should raise the threshold in Northern Ireland to higher than £1 million to reflect the smaller scale of farming in the Province. As others have stated, farmers are asset-rich but cash-poor. Many farms with an average of 80 to 100 acres will easily reach the £1 million inheritance tax threshold due to land prices, machinery and buildings on farms. To protect the average farming family in this country, we need to see the threshold raised. <BR /> <BR />As others have mentioned, the mean age of farmers in Northern Ireland is 59, with 36% of managers aged over 65, so, really, this is coming down the tracks. We have a major problem with succession planning.”
“Farmers have already had to navigate new environmental regulations; digital record-keeping; increased regulatory inspections; TB; bird flu; and EU regulations on the movement of animals. Last year, the average farm income dropped by as much as 44%. The new tax on inheritance is the greatest threat to succession farming that we will ever know. The Labour Government, with their ill-thought-out policy, will wipe out the next generation of food producers in this country, threaten food security and desecrate the land. Without the next generation of farmers, there will be no food. <BR /> <BR />Farmers are looking into a bleak future, and we must collectively do all in our power to reverse the policy. The uncertainty is, as others have said, taking its toll not only on farm livelihoods but on farmers' mental health.”
“At the outset, I declare an interest in this and the previous motion, as I am a farming family member. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion and thank the proposer for bringing it to the House. The debate follows the Ulster Farmers' Union rally last night at the Eikon centre. As has been referenced, over 6,000 farm family members attended that event. It was a phenomenal show of strength in protest at the unfair and unjust plans of the Labour Government to impose new thresholds for inheritance tax and agricultural property relief on farms. You had only to look to see how many young people attended that rally, young people whose future is being threatened by this punishing tax. We need to do all that we can to value their commitment to farming and protect their livelihoods. <BR /> <BR />The situation facing farm families is intolerable.”
“It is essential that any measures include a targeted wildlife intervention, as proposed by the TB Eradication Partnership, a panel made up of scientists, environmentalists and experts. Farmers in Fermanagh and South Tyrone are being let down by the lack of action on an integrated and targeted wildlife intervention, which is prevalent in England and the Republic of Ireland. The evidence speaks for itself: where there is wildlife intervention, TB numbers fall. Northern Ireland must implement a mingled animal vaccination programme in low-infection areas, with targeted culling where TB levels are high. <BR /> <BR />The Minister must commit to eradicating bovine TB, and I will take his assurances on that. We should protect our farmers and safeguard our agriculture sector. The UUP will support the motion and the amendment.”
“That is financially unsustainable and untenable, and it is why we need a comprehensive and holistic bovine TB strategy, which must be a priority for the Department.”
“TB impacts on the very fabric of our rural communities. As other Members have mentioned, our farmers, who dedicate themselves to ensuring our food supply, endure significant emotional and financial hardships due to that ongoing disease. The loss of livestock, rigorous testing protocols and movement restrictions create a relentless cycle of challenges that must not be overlooked. The annual financial cost to the Department of Northern Ireland's TB cost control programme is currently in excess of £55 million and, as others have said, is projected to surpass £60 million in the current financial year, with almost 10% of farm businesses affected by TB in the past 12 months. Members will agree that those figures actively demonstrate the shortcomings of the current programme.”