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.
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank Members for their contributions and welcome the interest in this important issue. Again, I thank the Economy Committee for its report. As I set out in my opening remarks, it is not yet clear how the Bill will operate in practice, as it is an enabling Bill. However,…
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I regret that I am unable to move the motion in the way that I would have wished for the debate. I will provide an update on why that is the case and why I am unable to seek the Assembly's consent to all the clauses in the Bill that engage devolved matters.…
I thank the Member for his question and for bringing that to my attention. I am not aware of that, but, if he wants to write to me about it, I will certainly ask officials to look into it.
I thank the Member for his question. As I have set out, we will try, through the transition support service, to improve that read-across in the immediacy. Certainly, I am more than happy to work cross-departmentally to achieve that and also to engage with the Member and his constituents on it. Where good practice…
I thank the Member for his question. It is clear that there is a real need to see better cross-departmental collaboration on this issue, in particular, and on others. The priority in the Programme for Government of special educational needs puts a particular focus on it from a cross-Executive perspective. Therefore,…
I thank the Member for that question. It was one of the issues that was clearly highlighted in the work. There is a particular challenge there, because those young people are left with no support or provision. I really want to work on that with the Department of Health and the Department of Education to see how we can…
I thank the Member for her question. She is right to reflect the fact that this is a really challenging area. I have worked within my remit to bring forward proposals that I can progress on my own as a Minister, but I really want to work with colleagues across the Executive. I know that there is enough goodwill around…
I thank the Member for his question. Like him, I very much recognise the campaigning efforts of many on the issue and those who contributed to the work that was undertaken. As the Member mentioned, that includes some of those whom I met today, including Alma and Dee from Caleb's Cause, who have really shone a light on…
I thank you, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle, and it will not take much longer. I will return to where I left off. The question was asked whether a similar one-year deferral in exceptional circumstance could be introduced for a small number of students at the end of the school journey for whom an extension was assessed…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Today is the start of Learning Disability Week, and I will provide an update on the review of education, skills and training provision for young people with special educational needs. Last year, my predecessor, Conor Murphy, advised the Assembly of his concerns over gaps…
Of course, my Department has an Irish language policy — a dual-language policy — and that is reflective of the action that is in the business plan. That is being rolled out across our arm's-length bodies as well in respect of the need to support the Irish language, particularly in the further education sector.
Yes, of course. Ulster University's Magee campus represents a significant strategic investment and has the potential to deliver substantial economic benefits for the north-west and, of course, the whole region. Since the task force launched its final report and action plan in December, work is progressing at pace…
I thank the Member for his question. I certainly am confident that the Dublin-Derry route would help to unlock tremendous potential across the region and, importantly, help to exploit the significant investment that my Department has made, along with the Irish Government and others, across the private and public…
Again, I thank the Member for his question. Of course, if anybody has any information on those attacks, I urge them to bring it to the attention of the police. On the point that he made about 5G and the concerns that some people have had, off the back of the Adjournment debate and some of the media reporting, my…
I thank the Member for his question. He will, of course, know that, in the Adjournment debate, I unreservedly condemned those actions. I think that there is no place for them. They are damaging infrastructure and are having an impact on local communities, on businesses and on people's everyday life. As the Member will…
I thank the Member for his question. Support for skills — skills in general — is a key priority for my Department, particularly in respect of apprenticeships and key trades to support the priority sectors that we have talked about this morning, one of which is advanced manufacturing, which, clearly, Spirit falls…
I thank the Member for his question. As recently as this morning, I met trade union representatives from Spirit, along with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and I have given them assurances of my support in ensuring that we protect those jobs. I have been engaging with everybody whom you would expect me…
I thank the Member for her question. I am not sure that I have had any discussions with the Agriculture Minister in relation to the nutrients action programme, and I am not sure that the previous Minister had any before I was in position. I am sure that officials across Departments have been engaging, as they do on a…
I thank the Member for her question. The Department is working on a number of biomethane actions as part of the 2025 energy strategy action plan. That work includes progressing action 6, which will support the sustainability of biomethane being utilised in the gas network. Key areas of focus include progressing…
I thank the Member for his question. I certainly believe that the all-island economy has tremendous unrealised potential. Collaboration and trade are key to the growth of our economy. I am pleased to welcome and support The Competitiveness Institute's prominent global conference later this year, which will promote…
I was really pleased to have the opportunity to meet the representatives of the Border Region Manufacturing Cluster when they visited last week. I know that they also met representatives of the Economy Committee. At our meeting, they shared a policy paper with us, which was entitled 'Strengthening Regional Resilience…
I thank the Member for her supplementary question. I expect to receive the draft terms of reference for the review of higher education in the very near future. That will, of course, will be shared with the Economy Committee after I have taken decisions on it. We all recognise that we face a really constrained…
I thank the Member for her question. I am not sure whether I have the information about the budget allocations in front of me, but I would be happy to share it with the Member in written correspondence. I understand that we provided the Committee with figures on student places for the incoming academic year, but I can…
As I stated previously, officials in my Department have commenced work in that area. We recognise the importance of and urgency in seizing the opportunities that come with AI, but it is equally important that we implement the right policies and actions to ensure that AI is adopted in a way that delivers maximum value…
My Department is developing AI policy to maximise the benefits of the technology for our people and our businesses. That work will build on existing initiatives such as the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) to ensure that our workforce is equipped to utilise AI; that businesses can adopt it safely;…