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.
The North/South interconnector project is essential in order to deliver an affordable and renewable energy system across the island. It is estimated that the cost to local electricity consumers due to the absence of the interconnector is £19 million per year. The interconnector will enable an additional 900 MW of…
Yes. With respect to renewable heat in the domestic sector, the Department consulted recently on future support of low-carbon technology in residential properties. That consultation closed on 10 January. The views that were provided will support the Department in the development of policy to inform options regarding…
I thank the Member for his question. I cannot give a precise time frame for approval of the business case. My Department is working at pace with the Department of Finance on progressing that. I am sure that the Member will agree that it is important that that is done appropriately. With the support of the Executive,…
On 30 July, the then Economy Minister announced that the Executive had reaffirmed their commitment to close the non-domestic RHI scheme. That was consistent with the aim in 'New Decade, New Approach' in 2020: "RHI will be closed down and replaced by a scheme that effectively cuts carbon emissions." I am committed to a…
The research was conducted before the proposals for the 'good jobs' Bill were published. It is important to recognise that good jobs benefit everybody in our economy and that evidence clearly demonstrates that employers benefit from having a more productive and engaged workforce. There is a clear need to modernise our…
I have made my position clear on the issue. The Executive do not have the financial capability to mitigate the decisions taken at Westminster that have a direct, detrimental impact not just on businesses but on people here. As I said, we already provide a range of supports to businesses, and we are looking at how…
I thank the Member for his question, which is about something that is reflected to many of us in our conversations with businesses. I met the Infrastructure Minister last week to discuss that issue in particular. She highlighted a range of initiatives that her Department is taking to improve and speed up the planning…
Yes. You are quite right that that is highlighted. I am sure that that issue has been reflected to many of us by businesses in our constituencies, particularly those in border areas that are competing directly with businesses in the South. The Minister of Finance has asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to…
I thank the Member for his question and for highlighting that particular issue and the challenges facing businesses here. We all very much recognise those challenges. The Member will know — I have rehearsed this answer on a number of occasions — that the Executive do not have the financial capability to mitigate bad…
In my previous role as Finance Minister, I commissioned the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre to examine the cost of doing business in the North. That research was published last week. It highlights the range of cost challenges that employers have faced in recent years, including those resulting from the COVID…
I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in trade and business development sectoral format, which was held in Armagh on 16 April 2025. Minister Gordon Lyons MLA and I represented the Executive, and I chaired the meeting. The…
I thank the Member for his question. I recognise the challenges that he has outlined. When I speak to businesses, they express similar concerns. As he will know, when I was Finance Minister, I initiated a cost of doing business research project, which I anticipate will be published in the near future. Part of the…
I share the Member's concern. It is something that I been active on since I came into post, as was my predecessor. The issue with the ETA is its potential to disincentivise tourism in the North, particularly among visitors who come to the South and want to travel north. It can also be seen as a potential barrier for…
There is an action in the tourism vision and action plan, which the Member for Newry and Armagh mentioned, to incorporate regions of the North into the Fáilte Ireland regional branding. Significant progress has been made in bringing the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway coastal route together through an ongoing…
I thank the Member for his question. It takes time for the reports to be approved by the C&AG in each jurisdiction and laid in the respective Houses. I believe that all the processes are being followed as we would expect them to be and that the accounts for 2024 will be presented in the near future.
I thank the Member for his question. Work continues with all the tourism agencies to progress collaboration on the brands across the island. It is my understanding that Fáilte Ireland is undertaking a review of the Ireland's Ancient East brand in order to understand its impact and how it can be improved.
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the 1998 Act regarding a meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in tourism sectoral format. The meeting was held in Armagh on 16 April. I represented the Northern Ireland Executive and was accompanied by…
Yes. The legislation that is passing through Westminster differs in a number of areas from what we are proposing to do. In some cases, it has perhaps clouded some of the engagement that we have been having on our Bill. There are concerns about measures that are in the Bill that is going through Westminster not being…
I thank the Member for his question. He is right to highlight the plight of workers who continue to face precarious work. My message to them is this: we have your back, and we want to address the challenges that you continue to face. Some of the actions that we are taking through the Bill — ending exploitative…
I thank the Member for taking the time to engage with me this afternoon on my proposals. What I have set out today and what I presented to business and trade union representatives and other stakeholders this morning is detailed, and I expect that they will rightly take their time to consider the proposals. I hope that…
I thank the Member for his question. I said in my statement that I wrote to Executive colleagues this morning with my set of proposals. There was a 13-week consultation period in which over 190 responses, representing the views of tens of thousands of people, were received. I believe that my proposals strike a balance…
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It is fitting that I make the statement on Workers' Memorial Day. Everyone benefits from good jobs. A decent, reliable wage benefits workers and their families. The flexibility to balance a career with family life means that more people can stay in work, giving…
That has not come to me, because it will go to the Finance Minister. The research is important for providing an evidence base to support potential Executive interventions and on which to make the case to the British Treasury that we have special circumstances here that need to be taken into account. I am looking…
I take the Member's point. It is important that we work in partnership with local councils to develop those plans, and that is why we have taken that particular road. The Member will be aware that, alongside the Department's economic vision and economic plans, Invest NI has published its business plan for the next…
Regional balance is one of the four priorities in my economic plan, the others being good jobs, productivity and decarbonisation. On regional balance specifically, in October last year, Conor Murphy published the subregional economic plan. A key part of it, as I mentioned, is the establishment of the local economic…