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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“I thank Members for their contributions so far and those who tabled the important motion. Bovine TB is one of the most significant and expensive infectious diseases affecting our agri-food sector in Northern Ireland. As an MLA for the rural constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, where TB rates are amongst the highest in the country and well above the Northern Ireland average, I often hear about the devastating consequences that TB has had on our cattle farmers and family farms.”
“Will the Minister outline how many times her Department has engaged with the Director of Public Prosecutions when sentences for violence against women and girls have been too lenient and how many sentences that applies to?”
“The words that I took away from last night were "anger", "uncertainty", "disappointment", "apprehension", "dread" and "heartbreak". We cannot allow this threat to future generations of farming. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly must speak with one voice, oppose the measures and take the message to Westminster that the nation's food security relies on protecting those who work the land for this generation and the next. I applaud the young speakers at last night's rally. Their message must resonate loud and clear: no farmers, no food. The Assembly must speak with one loud voice and oppose the measures.”
“Small family farms require many farmers to engage in off-farm employment to generate sufficient income to cover all the associated costs and investments that are required to ensure that farms comply with farm quality assured schemes, the Red Tractor scheme, health and safety, biosecurity etc. The general public simply do not see that often, but that is what it takes to run a farm. <BR /> <BR />Farmers feel that the agricultural property relief tax will be the final straw. Future generations will have to sell portions of the land or take on additional borrowings, with associated financial and mental well-being challenges. Is it right that we ask our young farmers to take on that burden of inheritance tax? As someone remarked last night, "When the farmer dies, the Inland Revenue will be at the door chasing the inheritance tax".”
“<BR /> <BR />Recently, I spoke to a sixth-generation farmer who hopes to see his grandchildren running the family farm. He remarked on how much the industry had changed.”
“Last night, I attended the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) rally at the Eikon exhibition centre in Lisburn. Over 6,000 farming folk attended what was a phenomenal show of the strength of opposition to the Chancellor's proposed draconian taxes on farm succession and inheritance. The number of young people in attendance was most noteworthy. They are our future farmers, and we owe it to them to safeguard their future livelihood. They were there to send out a message of confidence in and commitment to their industry but also to share their fears about where the taxation policy is taking us. There were many older farmers present as well. In fact, all generations were represented. That signifies the threat being felt to the industry in Northern Ireland. Simply put, without farmers, there will be no food or protection of the landscape.”
“To follow up, I take your assurances, Minister. What budget do you have in place for mitigations in areas of historic flooding?”
“I thank the Minister for that very reassuring update. I am particularly pleased to hear that the hospital is delivering more elective activity than ever. In light of some of the recent concern in the local area that the South West Acute Hospital is facing a downgrade following the publication of the network document, what reassurance can the Minister give that that is not the case?”
“— care activity that is being delivered —.”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber today. Will the Minister provide an update on elective —”
“Many businesses owe their survival to that funding investment, and it is imperative that DAERA step forward with similar rural business funding schemes as a successor to EU funding programmes. <BR /> <BR />The publication of the subregional economic plan is welcome, with its promise to deliver balance and equitable investment, particularly to rural regions. The plan will provide investment to indigenous industries to increase money coming back into rural economies to support families and small businesses. I support the Member's call for more financial assistance for mid-Ulster, as there is much work to be done.”
“That will be well received in the community and, I imagine, heavily oversubscribed, as the first tranche was. It is welcome for community projects to sustain and keep community life at the heart of the area. However, that funding falls far short of the previous EU funding under the European regional development fund, such as the LEADER projects that others have mentioned, which provided valuable capital and technical support for small businesses in rural areas and for community and sporting organisations. I was involved in a LEADER project and saw at first hand how that funding enabled businesses to grow. Without it, the survival of indigenous businesses would have been jeopardised.”
“Connecting rural communities with central services in the most time-efficient way can be delivered effectively only with further investment in upgrading rural roads. There are many cross-cutting and cross-departmental issues. I have been told that, depending on timings, it can take up to seven hours for someone leaving Cookstown to visit Antrim Area Hospital. An emergency transfer from Enniskillen to Altnagelvin Area Hospital can take two and a half hours. Notwithstanding that, I acknowledge that the Mid South West growth deal will improve infrastructure in the west, with the Cookstown and Enniskillen bypasses now receiving the go-ahead and the skills development and innovation projects that will come through with the Mid South West deal. <BR /> <BR />The reopening of the TRPSI rural micro-grants is welcome.”
“Those services are critical to promoting rural regions as attractive and affordable places to live, work and raise families. With the agricultural property inheritance tax relief being removed, we really do not want to see farmers leaving mid-Ulster, an area rich in produce. Fair and equitable funding needs to be provided so that a regional balance can be evidenced for those areas. Without funding to promote and sustain vibrant rural communities, we will see further closures of GP practices and small schools, which are anchors for rural residents. <BR /> <BR />Rural transport is a major issue. Without rural community transport networks, lots of people just would not get to appointments, whether they be medical, personal or for socialising. It is vital that rural transport services are supported adequately with guaranteed funding.”
“<BR /> <BR />This evening, I will address what is going on in rural communities in a more holistic fashion. Members have touched on many of the issues that I was going to address. Critically, however, access to services in those communities matters. The rural communities in mid and south-west Northern Ireland see services being stripped away. They see the closure of banks and small indigenous businesses; the challenge of securing funding to support rural transport, as has been mentioned; and the encroaching degradation of towns and villages through closures and lack of rejuvenation support. All those issues impact heavily on those living in rural areas and, indeed, on the ability to attract investment to support the agricultural economy.”
“I thank the Member for securing the Adjournment debate. I am obviously not a Mid Ulster constituent, but part of my constituency falls into the mid-Ulster area. Like other Members here, I represent a rural constituency: Fermanagh and South Tyrone. There are many parallels between Mid Ulster and Fermanagh and South Tyrone: their rural peripherality, location, isolation, health inequalities, deprivation and access to services. Members have rightly referenced the significant hardships that rural communities face. That is no less so following the announcement in the recent Budget on the agricultural property tax and the non-replacement of funding for the single farm payment, which has been referenced. Those issues loom large on the minds of many dwellers in rural communities.”
“Minister, the introduction of the electronic travel authorisation is being seen as a barrier to the transit to Northern Ireland of international tourists who arrive in Dublin. What steps is Tourism Ireland taking to mitigate that and prevent any damage to our local tourism industry?”
“I welcome the Minister's statement on the North/South Ministerial Council. The Minister referenced the Shared Island enterprise scheme funding of €30 million. I understand that the scheme is dedicated to fostering women's entrepreneurship on an all-island basis. Will the Minister give his assessment of uptake of the Grow It programme that is delivered by Women in Business and Network Ireland?”
“Let us commit to the proposed reforms and work together to rebuild the public's faith in our institutions.”
“Rather, we need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to rectifying the mistakes of the past and ensure that such failures do not occur again. <BR /> <BR />A number of key recommendations must be addressed, such as inadequate risk management, oversight shortcomings and issues in Departments with cultural resistance. The report also highlights the fact that the Executive subcommittee on reform has not met since 2020. That is a glaring oversight that must be addressed immediately. The Minister must urgently address the deficiencies identified in the report, including by re-establishing the Executive subcommittee on reform and ensuring that it meets regularly to oversee the implementation of the recommendations. It is time to turn the page on RHI and get our institutions back on track. Only the Minister is holding us back.”
“<BR /> <BR />The findings of the Northern Ireland Audit Office's second report, which was published on 15 October, actively demonstrate the urgent need for action. As other Members have said, the report is a damning indictment of the lack of progress made on a number of key Audit Office recommendations. The report makes clear that the Department of Finance has not acted with sufficient pace to implement fully the recommendations following the RHI inquiry almost four and half years ago. That should be extremely concerning, especially when we want to restore public confidence in our institutions. We must implement the report's recommendations in full and without further delay. Partial measures or superficial reforms will not suffice.”
“I thank the Members who tabled the motion, which addresses the Northern Ireland Audit Office's second report on progress made on implementing the RHI public inquiry recommendations. The motion also addresses the critical need for good governance, scrutiny and — here is that word again — transparency in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />I have said it before, and I will say it again: the RHI debacle damaged public confidence in our institutions and in this place. Institutional failings, alongside a lack of accountability and responsibility from certain corners of our political sphere, not only failed those who signed up to the scheme but unearthed a series of failings of governance in this institution.”
“The same must happen here to provide no incentive for letting a building fall into disrepair. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Members for tabling the motion, but any action plan to rejuvenate our high streets and town centres must include a comprehensive and bold plan to deal with derelict properties that blight our streets and hold back economic development. I hope that Members will support the amendment.”
“Any new strategy must devolve more power to councils to identify and locate long-term vacant property owners to serve relevant notices on them. <BR /> <BR />Efforts by councils to maintain and improve their town centres and high streets are hampered by the lack of an effective and modern enforcement regime, meaning that they are powerless to intervene to address long-term vacancies. Derelict shopfronts and abandoned buildings make it hard for councils to improve streetscapes in order to encourage new investment and tourism opportunities. One solution would be to do away with the 50% tax reduction for empty commercial buildings and the 100% exemption for derelict buildings. In Britain, those reliefs were scrapped a decade ago, with councils allowed to levy punitive charges.”
“Preparation for that Bill should take a cross-departmental approach to examine Northern Ireland's planning laws and property taxes, which reward leisurely landbanking. Planning permission that is meant to expire after five years can be kept valid indefinitely with token effort. Those issues must be part of any comprehensive plan to address long-term dereliction. <BR /> <BR />In County Fermanagh, there are at least four long-term vacant hotels in towns and villages. Recently, one was destroyed in a deliberate fire and is now a gaping derelict shell in the streetscape. In another location, a long-term derelict hotel, the owners of which cannot be located, is holding back potential investment opportunities. Across the two council areas in my constituency, there are over 1,500 non-domestic vacant properties.”
“<BR /> <BR />A strategy that links retail needs with the need for residential housing, flexible office space, digital connectivity, hospitality and entertainment options would be a positive and comprehensive first step to meet the demands of modern businesses. In that way, more residential accommodation in town centres and high streets would see more vibrant, lively high streets and contribute significantly to a night-time economy. <BR /> <BR />The Minister for the Economy should work with the Minister of Finance to address long-term derelict properties with a new strategy to rejuvenate high streets and town centres. A dilapidation Bill was due to be introduced to the Assembly in 2021 but still has not materialised.”
“Those challenges have not only monetary implications but profound social consequences. That is evident in the two main towns in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Despite a public realm scheme some years ago in Dungannon town, it suffers high vacancy rates and competition from a nearby out-of-town retail park and is no longer the bustling town centre that it once was. Enniskillen town centre is experiencing a shift that many other towns already feel from traditional family-owned shops to more national brands and an increased number of charity outlets. In addition, a soon-to-be-completed out-of-town retail park near Enniskillen poses a threat to town centre footfall.”
“However, it is obvious that high streets face unprecedented challenges with, as others have mentioned, online shopping, changing consumer habits, ongoing legacy pandemic economics and out-of-town retails parks, leading to reduced footfall and an increase in vacant properties. The recent rise in employers' National Insurance contributions, on top of the generous increase to the national minimum wage and the large cost implications of proposed employment law reform, will have a significant impact on high street employers. <BR /> <BR />In England, the Chancellor has protected small businesses by extending business rates relief for small firms in retail, hospitality and leisure. The Assembly has consistently failed to pass on business rates relief to those sectors in Northern Ireland.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I rise to address the substantive motion that has been moved by Alliance but to focus specifically on addressing long-term derelict buildings and how they impact on schemes to rejuvenate high streets and town centres. <BR /> <BR />I share other Members' disappointment that the high street task force's recommendations have not been implemented. They would go a long way to revitalising and re-energising the image of high streets and town centres. Our high streets play an important part in the local economy and the social fabric of our towns and villages. When our high streets thrive, our communities thrive.”
“Minister, thank you for coming to the Chamber this afternoon. Like others, I condemn the recent attacks and the litany of violent incidents perpetrated against women, which has become endemic in our society. It is unacceptable. We have heard about strategies, but, Minister, how are you taking charge of the situation?”
“Whilst small in stature, she was big in heart, and her contribution to the local community was immense. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her as an inspirational person. May she rest in peace.”
“Her personal experience of the condition enabled her to display great empathy and passion for her patients and their families. <BR /> <BR />In recognition of her exemplary fundraising and dedication to the MS charity, she was awarded the British Empire Medal. She was also presented with the MS Society's Shining Star award and the Points of Light award by the Prime Minister in Downing Street. In addition to that, she raised significant funds for the Aisling Centre women's health and well-being hub in Enniskillen and was a key organiser and enthusiast for the annual Lady of the Lake Festival in Irvinestown, her home town. <BR /> <BR />Siobhan is survived by her husband, Stevie, sons Daniel and Ben and siblings Catherine, Michael and Louise. It is to them that I send my deepest sympathy.”
“I rise to pay tribute to Siobhan Allister, a tireless charity campaigner and fundraiser who passed away suddenly, aged 63, on Saturday night. <BR /> <BR />Siobhan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010 at the age of 49. Facing that personal health challenge, she joined the Fermanagh MS group, and, through her commitment to that group, she became lead support volunteer and group coordinator. She raised in excess of £100,000 for MS causes in Northern Ireland, organising abseiling and marathon cycle events amongst others, and she was an active member of the all-party group on MS and neurology, using her knowledge of the condition to lobby for more research and funding for patients. Siobhan ensured that MS patients in Fermanagh received the benefit of her fundraising for therapeutic care.”
“The Minister must commence engagement immediately to find a solution that not only protects those who face financial hardship due to departmental failures but starts to rebuild confidence in the ability of the Assembly and Executive to deliver good governance. We will, therefore, not support the motion.”
“However, in fairness to the participants, they were encouraged to take up the renewable heat incentive scheme by the very Department that is now seeking to close this flawed episode. <BR /> <BR />The Department for the Economy has a choice. Does it accept that farmers and other biomass boiler owners may revert to fossil fuels, having lost all confidence in the scheme, or will it now re-engage purposefully to reinstate back payments to 2019 and set an acceptable tariff to allow full confidence in this scheme? The Ulster Unionist Party recommends that the Minister urgently tasks departmental officials to engage in a meaningful manner with participants to design a solution that ensures that those who entered the scheme with honest intent are not left with any financial loss.”
“Participants who legitimately invested in renewable heating technologies found themselves in a state of uncertainty as the scheme came under investigation and reforms were proposed. <BR /> <BR />The amendments to the scheme in 2019 led to significantly reduced payments, leaving many participants struggling to recoup their initial investment costs. For small and medium-sized businesses, that made it financially challenging to maintain the renewable heating systems, undermining the original incentive to adopt greener technologies. As a result of the reduced tariffs, small and medium-sized biomass operators have been undercompensated since 2019. It is now the Department's stance that a tariff of 12% demonstrates fairness to participants and the taxpayer.”
“RHI has damaged not only public confidence in governance but the livelihoods of those genuine users, including farmers, retailers and care home and hospitality operators, who saw an opportunity to support a renewable energy scheme that encouraged them to invest substantially in the installation and maintenance of biomass boilers over the long term. Many stretched themselves financially, assured that the tariffs would deliver sustainable incomes over the lifetime of the scheme. Those tariffs were even guaranteed in a letter by a former Member of this House to financial institutions. However, the reality has been quite different. Those who participated in the RHI scheme with genuine intent have been living a nightmare scenario of financial hardship since the scheme unravelled.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement on the renewable heat incentive scheme. Like many other Members who have addressed the Chamber today, I have watched with dismay at how that flawed scheme has unravelled and at how badly it has affected the credibility of governance and scrutiny in this place. <BR /> <BR />At every stage from its creation, the RHI non-domestic scheme has been plagued by dysfunction. That has created an understandable lack of confidence in the ability of government to deliver solutions that adequately address concerns. The move by the Minister to progress resolution by urgent procedure at the end of July has only created further concerns for participants.”
“First Minister, what additional plans does the Executive Office have to promote Northern Ireland on the world stage and to help attract inward investment?”
“For that reason, I support the motion calling on DAERA to fulfil its obligations under the water framework directive and proceed with haste to final implementation.”
“Algae bloom created by excess nutrients cause oxygen levels to reduce so much that they create dead zones and aquatic life becomes unsustainable. <BR /> <BR />A more strategic approach to managing Northern Ireland's water resources is needed. Not only does the physical infrastructure need upgrading but more effective regulatory measures need to be implemented to prevent pollution. The publication of the river basin management plan would be a good starting point to show that the Department is serious about its aim of addressing the pollution in Lough Neagh and across Northern Ireland's inland waterways. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague Robbie Butler said, this is about safeguarding public health, supporting biodiversity and ensuring that our waterways remain a vital part of our shared environmental heritage.”
“<BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland has more overflows per head of population and per kilometre of pipe than any other region in the United Kingdom. That leads to regular pollution incidents not just in Lough Erne but in other key water basins, such as Lough Neagh and the River Blackwater, also in my constituency. Those watercourses are key attractors for tourism; they are a key asset in the economy; and they support local businesses, such as eel fishing at Lough Neagh. As water quality deteriorates, the tourism industry will be affected, making lakelands less attractive to visitors. However, the environmental damage of pollution could be much longer-lasting. Once nutrient levels in our lakes and rivers reach a critical point, reversing the damage becomes more challenging.”
“An Audit Office report from September 2024 highlighted that the deteriorating water quality in Lough Erne, which is in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, is largely due to outdated waste water infrastructure having to cope with increasing demands. <BR /> <BR />We delude ourselves, if we think that the problem will go away, and that is why it is imperative that the final publication and implementation of the river basin management plan is given the utmost urgency. Implementation and action will be the precursor to action on other fresh water lakes and rivers. The issues facing Lough Erne that I have referred to are not unique but are symptomatic of a broader crisis in Northern Ireland's waste water management.”
“I thank the proposer of the motion for bringing this important topic to the Assembly today. Failure to address more broadly the contamination of our inland waterways by producing a revised river basin management plan for Lough Neagh and our river basin districts is an indictment on the Department, statutory bodies and associated agencies. <BR /> <BR />As other Members have stated, water is an essential natural resource that we all rely on to sustain us. Fresh water is needed for human and animal consumption. It is needed for the aquatic life that it sustains in fresh water rivers and lakes and, in fact, for entire ecosystems.”
“Has the Justice Minister engaged with the PSNI to address the real issue of femicide in Northern Ireland.”
“Like others, I support and welcome the announcement of these jobs today. It is another good news story, which we need. However, in the same vein as my fellow MLAs from Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I ask the Minister about the recent loss of 300 skilled advisory jobs at BT in Enniskillen. That workforce had been recognised within BT as belonging to the best-performing region in the United Kingdom. Was there crossover engagement with Invest NI in identifying the location of those jobs, given that Invest NI assured my former colleagues on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council that it was working hard to find jobs for those who had been affected by the job losses at BT?”
“That is why that issue is so important for the long-term sustainability of the sector and why it has to be tackled. I hope that the House sends a unanimous message today that social care is a good, rewarding and incredibly important career. I look forward to seeing reforms in the time ahead that further strengthen and stabilise our social care workforce and the sector as a whole.”
“We know that some aspects of the current system do not work in the way that we need them to. To address that, we need to look more widely at how social care is organised, commissioned, delivered and led. In addition, I especially welcome the previous consultation's focus on including greater powers to regulate and inspect independent sector providers of care. Every year, the role of independent sector provision becomes more important. Those powers must be seen not as a detriment to that provision but as something that works in the interests of everyone, including service users, providers and, fundamentally, those who pay for the service, be that individuals, families or the state. <BR /> <BR />I return to the fundamental issue of the workforce, because, without it, we would have nothing.”
“Whilst patient flow through our hospitals is often a problem, the situation would be even worse were it not for our social care system, which often goes above and beyond. That is why I very much support the key proposals to improve pay and terms and conditions for the social care workforce. <BR /> <BR />Yet, none of us, I am sure, are oblivious to the remaining challenges that are weighing down the sector. That is why I was glad that, earlier this year, a further cash injection was made. Unfortunately, however, despite the growing demand for social care, the Health budget that was agreed earlier this year fell far short of the recognised levels of need. Nevertheless, I absolutely recognise that the solutions are not dependent solely on funding.”
“For those who cannot, social care workers are essential in supporting them to live well with their non-clinical needs. Any one of us who has had family members receive that care will have seen at first hand just how tirelessly our social care staff work day and night to provide quality care to many of the most vulnerable. That is especially true in constituencies such as mine, Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Every day huge numbers of people are assisted, regardless of whether they live in towns or at the bottom of any of our long and meandering farm lanes. <BR /> <BR />Of course, there is also a very important crossover between working in health and working in social care. Without the providers and workforce that we have, our hospitals simply could not or would not function.”