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. I was really grateful to Women's Aid Armagh Down for taking the time to meet me. I was hugely impressed by the really dedicated team there, and I am delighted that work has started on an extension to its premises. I completely agree that domestic violence is an economic issue. It…
That has been a persistent issue over a long period. We have performed poorly in relative terms on productivity, and different policy interventions will be required to improve that. Skills is one aspect, but we also need to support our businesses appropriately by ensuring that there is a policy environment across the…
I thank the Member for her good wishes and for her question. As I mentioned, I was at the launch of the skills barometer this morning. It is really important work. It is insightful and useful to a number of audiences. For us, as policymakers, it poses questions about how we will meet the workforce needs when, clearly,…
I thank the Member for her follow-up question. As a constituency representative, I have had those conversations, but I have not yet had the opportunity to be briefed on the matter in my ministerial capacity. I am happy to be, just as I am happy to work with Ulster University on any proposals that it may have, but…
I thank the Member for her good wishes and for her question. As a constituency representative, I have had engagement with Ulster University around these matters, and I know that it is introducing a new veterinary nursing course for the incoming academic year. That is a really positive development. The conversations…
I do not disagree with the Member in any way. Obviously, we have the energy strategy, and we need to deliver on the targets in that. Also, this is about the people whom we all represent and the cost that it has for them. We have all been acutely aware of that over the past number of years as we have faced the…
I thank the Member for his good wishes and for his question. There are differences between the structure of the energy market in the North and that in Britain. There are schemes that are provided there that are not provided here and vice versa. Obviously, energy policy is devolved, so we have the opportunities to…
I thank the Member for that follow-up question. Local economic partnerships will help to give us a better understanding of the economic needs and priorities in areas across the North. Clearly, skills are a critical part of our economic infrastructure, so this information will be really valuable for local partnerships.…
I thank the Member for her question. I was delighted to attend and speak at the launch of the 'Skills Barometer: 2023-2033' report this morning. I was encouraged that the sectors with the highest forecasted growth rates in the skills barometer align well with my Department's seven priority sectors. However, the skills…
I, like most people, recognise that the US is an important market for us. We export over £1 billion worth of goods and services to the US, so, clearly, it is an important relationship. As I said, I will seek to engage with US representatives in coming days and weeks.
I echo the Member's words and understand the public sentiment behind them. We all abhor the horrifying scenes that we have seen in Gaza and Palestine over the past year and a half; most right-minded people do. We have consistently challenged the US, the British Government and others who provide arms to Israel and…
I thank the Member for her question. She is right: I have already addressed that issue. Invest NI has assured me that it does not provide support for projects that arm Israel, and no evidence has been provided to the contrary. As I indicated to Pat Sheehan, I have asked Invest NI to review its investments to make…
I thank the Member for her question and her good wishes. I am aware of proposals to develop Desertcreat and the opportunity that that site offers to deliver much-needed industrial land in mid-Ulster. I understand that Invest NI has been working with the council to assist in the development of its proposals for the…
Through the regional property programme, there is a commitment to that work on a local level to try to identify land and property and to work with local partners. I take the Member's point: we should be maximising the potential that we have with our access to both markets and encouraging our manufacturers to be able…
I am aware of the issue at Balloo South and that there has been no land sold there in the past 10 years. However, Invest NI will continue to market the estate as an attractive investment location and pursue property interests from those businesses that meet its intervention criteria. There is land available at Balloo…
Industrial land is an important element of our investment proposition, as it can enable the establishment and growth of locally owned businesses and attract inward investors. Invest NI's total landholding is 2,700 acres, the majority of which has been sold and developed. Since 2020, Invest NI has sold approximately…
I thank the Member for her question and her good wishes. Tax reliefs remain an option, but due to the complexity of modelling the tax relief itself and the need to change the legislation that will be required, it is unlikely to form part of the overall programme, but there will be sufficient alternative interventions…
I thank the Member for his response. As he will know, navigating such programmes is a bureaucratic and lengthy process: our experience with city deals is testament to that. We put political weight behind such things and make progress. I will certainly do that and will engage to seek updates from officials on progress…
My officials continue to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through a joint working group to co-design the North's £150 million enhanced investment zone programme. The development of the programme must follow an MHCLG pre-agreed staged-approval process. The target for…
Progress is being made in relation to all three brands. I will be happy to write to the Member with further details on Ireland's Ancient East specifically and on joining up the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway coastal route.
The incorporation of areas of the North into Fáilte Ireland's regional brands is a key driver for delivering regional economic growth and a key action in my Department's tourism vision and action plan. Tourism NI is working collaboratively with councils and operators to determine how broadening the reach of those…
I thank the Member for her good wishes. Being from the north coast, I am particularly aware of that issue and have engaged with the council and with others, locally, in respect of that. I have not yet had the opportunity to engage with the Minister for Infrastructure, but I am more than happy to do so. The Open…
Tourism Ireland is responsible for marketing the entire island of Ireland. One of the Member's colleagues asked a question for written answer on that matter. I will share the answer with the Member.
In January, my Department launched the tourism vision and action plan, which outlines 17 actions to drive sustainable, regionally balanced economic growth in the sector. Delivery will be overseen by the tourism partnership board. Actions include incorporating local regions into Fáilte Ireland’s regional brands;…