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Dr Caoimhe Archibald: Assembly records
All of Dr Caoimhe Archibald’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I thank the Member for his question. One of the key reasons why we took the decision that we did on connection charging policy was to address the unfairnesses in the existing system, particularly for rural businesses, which often faced much greater costs. Under the previous arrangements, customers in areas where the…
I thank the Member for his question and for his considerable interest in energy policy, which I really do appreciate. We have discussed the issue on a number of occasions. Later in the year, I will publish the energy strategy policy statement, which will set out the key milestones for delivery to 2030. The statement…
Ensuring that electricity grid capacity does not act as a barrier to economic investment is a priority for me and my Department. Through the grid development monitoring group, my Department brings together key stakeholders to drive progress on strategic transmission and distribution projects and to identify barriers…
I thank the Member for her question. As I said, it is about making sure that we are meeting the needs of all learners. We will continue to engage with the Education Minister. I think that we share the aspiration that what we teach young people, in school or further or higher education, meets the needs of the economy…
I thank the Member for his question. In the type of qualifications that young people obtain, the subjects that they study and ensuring that a range of pathways is available, it is important that the curriculum, as it develops, recognises the value not only of academic pathways but of technical and vocational pathways,…
I thank the Member for her question. I have engaged directly with the Education Minister on the legislation, and my officials have engaged with their colleagues. As I said, I support the principle. I want young people to stay in education or training, but, as the Member said, it has to be the right pathway for the…
I thank the Member for his question. My officials will continue to engage with Department of Education officials on that wider piece of work. Although we have not been involved directly in developing the proposals, I and my Department have a focus on ensuring that we have the skills that meet the needs of the economy…
With your permission, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I will answer questions 2 and 9 together. I have engaged with the Minister of Education on a range of issues relating to learner pathways, curriculum reform and participation in education and training. While officials from my Department and the Department of…
Thank you, a Phriomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I have been fairly generous in not pushing back at Members in relation to who has responsibility for these particular areas, because I very much recognise the cross-cutting impact that planning and waste water infrastructure have on the local economy. I assure the Member…
I thank the Member for his question. I am not sure that there is a dataset that captures what he set out. When businesses and investors make decisions, they make them based on a range of measures, so, of course, Invest will interrogate the various issues that any investor identifies, and it will have a record of that.…
I thank the Member for his question. As I said, the Executive as a whole have a focus on the need to invest in our waste water infrastructure. We do consider it a constraint to building houses, to which he referred, and to economic development. We are therefore focused on that. I support the Infrastructure Minister's…
I thank the Member for her question. She has corresponded with me previously on issues to do with the waste water infrastructure in Newtownards. As an Executive, we are collectively focused on the issue and are working with NI Water. The Infrastructure Minister has lead responsibility for that and has been trying to…
Earlier this year, I met the Minister for Infrastructure and NI Water, and we are meeting again tomorrow to discuss water and waste water infrastructure and NI Water's proposals to address issues that constrain economic development here. Together, working with industry, we are exploring ways in which we can apply…
Thank you, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I really welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Second Stage debate on the Regional Balance Bill. At the outset, I want to congratulate the Bill sponsor. I very much appreciate the effort that she has put in to get the Bill to this stage. I think that it is fair to say…
I thank the Member for his intervention. I can certainly give him that commitment on the point about state aid. It is important. Other EU states have similar schemes in place. I take on board the point that he made about the timescales for some of the decisions to be made. We do not want any unnecessary delays at a…
The short answer is yes. We have not yet determined what that should be, however. That is one of the elements of the Bill on which we intend to make further regulations, so there will be a further opportunity for consultation and to take on board the views of the public more widely on that. It is an important issue.
I thank the Member for his intervention. In relation to clause 12, no, I do not have a specified time, but I am happy for the Committee to go into that in more detail. In relation to community benefit at clause 13, it is my intention that households will receive the financial benefit of hosting the infrastructure. It…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank Members for their contributions to the debate. I have found them very helpful. I enjoyed hearing Members' reflections on the Bill and welcome the broad support for it. I thank Diana for her work on the Economy Committee and wish her well in her new role. I welcome…
I beg to move Members will be acutely aware of the impact that volatile fossil fuel prices are having on households and businesses. Events that are taking place far beyond our shores have had direct consequences for energy bills at home. We cannot control global fossil fuel markets, but we can reduce our dependence on…
Go raibh maith agat. I thank all Members who contributed to the debate and all members of the Committee. As I said in my opening remarks, I very much appreciate the engagement of the Committee on this matter. I have no doubt that the Committee will continue to have an interest, and I will welcome its continued…
I beg to move Today, I seek the Assembly's approval for the draft Renewable Heat Incentive (Closure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. The RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Act 2026, which enables the Department to make these regulations, was enacted on 17 June 2026. Regulation 4 provides a high-level overview…
I beg to introduce the Renewable Electricity Generation Bill [NIA Bill 42/22-27], which is a Bill to confer powers to provide financial assistance for the purposes of encouraging low-carbon electricity generation.
I beg to move I seek the Assembly's approval for the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. The statutory rule was made on 1 April and came into operation on 6 April. It is before the Assembly today under the confirmatory procedure. Again, I am…