All of Dr Caoimhe Archibald’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I thank the Member for her question. She will be aware of the measures that the Infrastructure Minister has taken in advance of the Christmas period to minimise traffic disruption. However, we want people to be out in the shops and on our high streets, spending money and supporting businesses in advance of Christmas,…
I do not agree with the Member in that regard. What we are trying to achieve with the 'good jobs' Bill is to ensure that workers have good terms and conditions and that businesses that are doing the right thing and implementing good policies and supporting their workers are not being undercut by those who are less…
I thank the Member for his question. I concur with a lot of what he said: it is a challenging environment for business for a range of reasons. There are lots of cost pressures. All of us will endorse the idea that the lowest paid should have their wages topped up annually, but, alongside other cumulatively increasing…
The recent increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, persistently high energy costs and the higher input costs driven by inflation are major components of the challenge. Many of the issues are outside my Department's remit, but support exists for businesses on a number of fronts, including support to…
I thank the Member for her question. I was in Boston for two days at the end of last week on a trip that was specifically about promoting the north-west as a leading location for investment and trade. On Thursday, hosted by Tourism NI, I had the opportunity to meet representatives of the American travel trade. I…
I agree. It can be challenging to find a tradesperson to do a job for you, because they are so busy. You will probably be surprised to hear that the most popular apprenticeships are those in construction trades. We need to put a focus on that, because we need tradespeople in those areas, be they construction workers,…
I thank the Member for his question. We recently published the apprenticeship action plan. The plan is about ensuring that apprenticeships are readily available and accessible and that they meet the needs of business while being person-centred and meeting the needs of our young people and, increasingly, people of all…
I thank the Member for his question. I agree that data is really important in evidencing progress, and, in the Department, we are looking at using that to ensure that the objectives that we set ourselves under the departmental plan are met and to measure how we perform against those objectives. Invest NI has…
I thank the Member for his question. Skills are the top priority for me, as Minister, because they underpin everything else that we are trying to achieve across the four priorities of the economic vision. We need people with the appropriate skills to fill the good jobs that we are trying to create in regions across…
I do not have a crystal ball to help me understand what the impacts might be, but I expect there to be robust evaluations of the initiatives' achievements. I expect them to be successful and to have positive outcomes, because, when there is community buy-in and something is built from the ground up, it will meet the…
I thank the Member for his question. I certainly see a strong synergy between the initiatives that are being taken forward under the community wealth-building pilot projects and what can be done with our local economic partnerships. The intent behind the local economic partnerships was to democratise power back to…
I thank the Member for her question. I am not aware of that initiative, but I am happy to look into it and for my officials to evaluate its objectives and outworkings. I, too, am lobbied by hospitality businesses that find things challenging in the current circumstances, and we all know that last year's Budget from…
I thank the Member for her question. The report by the high street task force had a number of recommendations. My Department has taken forward those that fall within my responsibility. On place-based regeneration, it is worth saying that, with the Communities Minister, I recently announced funding for community…
When I set out the way forward on the 'good jobs' Bill in April, I set out what would be contained in the Bill. Drafters are progressing the legislation. I do not see why you would anticipate seeing the contents of the Bill before it has been introduced in the Assembly. As I said, I view it as being on track.
The good jobs agenda is about putting more money in workers' pockets, prosperity and ensuring that people have access to a good job, a good work-life balance and good working conditions. I am a little bemused by the question, because, in April, when I announced the way forward, I indicated that it would be January…
The setting of air passenger duty is a reserved matter that is legislated for by the Treasury, which then collects APD. I consider APD to be an unfair tax that continues to have a significant detrimental impact on domestic aviation, as was acknowledged by Sir Peter Hendy in the Union connectivity review. The British…
Yes, although I am not sure that I have the full details in front of me. The consultation has completed, and we will publish information on the way forward in the very near future. If the Member wishes to write to me, I will furnish her with her further details, but that is the gist of it.
I thank the Member for his question, as it gives me the opportunity to address the issue. The Audit Office reported on three targets and found that progress was being made on two of them. For the third target — energy efficiency — the issue was with data, and we, as a Department, need to resolve that. Of the funding…
As I indicated, it is my intention to publish the decision before the end of the year. Its implementation will progress during 2026. As I said in my initial answer, I know that rural constituents in particular have lobbied for greater socialisation of grid connection costs for a long time. I have to consider the…
A review of grid connection charges here remains a priority for me. I intend to publish a decision paper later this year, with implementation planned for 2026. My Department has consulted on the options for transitioning to a more socialised grid connection charging policy. Greater socialisation of grid connection…
I thank the Member for his question. We are all aware of the financial pressures that the Department of Education is under. Putting increasing student numbers into its remit may further stretch that available funding. My Department is also under funding pressure. I have tried very hard to prioritise skills within my…
I thank the Member for his question. Certainly, I support the broad intention of the legislation to ensure that all our young people have opportunities. Currently, there is a lack of sufficient detail to properly comment on the specifics. As I mentioned, we need to see all pathways appropriately funded to ensure that…
The Minister of Education and I met in May to discuss his proposals for 16-18 legislation. We will meet again at the end of this month to continue that discussion, alongside other cross-cutting issues relating to 14-19 education. My officials have maintained ongoing engagement with the Department of Education on those…
As a mitigation to meet security of supply for demand until the run-hours reset on 1 January 2026, my departmental officials have been engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, providing evidence that, under the circumstances, it is necessary to increase the running hours at Kilroot.…
I am not sure why the Member thinks that I have not been clear on the issue. The North/South interconnector is critical infrastructure. It is really unfortunate that it will be delayed; some of the issues that we have been dealing with recently in relation to the security of supply would not be happening if we had the…