Debate contribution: All-island Tourism
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 23 March 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- All-island Tourism
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5465676
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for her question. I agree that growing and sustaining our tourism sector across the North is really important. It is part of our economic vision. Last year, we published the 'Tourism Vision and Action Plan', which was co-designed with industry and published in partnership with Tourism NI and the broader tourism sector. One action coming out of the vision and action plan is the aviation policy that was mentioned earlier in Question Time. Work is under way to implement that action plan and build on the positive momentum that we see across our tourism sector. Over the past year, we have seen a number of really positive moments, such as the Open in Portrush last summer. Obviously, we look forward to the Fleadh coming in August. Since the start of my party's stewardship of the Department, funding from Tourism Ireland has been increased. That has supported a really strong focus on marketing and promotion. Tourism NI's marketing activity is also delivering significant reach and showcasing the breadth of what we have to offer, from our fabulous landscapes and cultural events to our food, drink and accommodation. The recent announcement on the use of the Hidden Heartlands tourism branding is also a significant development for all-island tourism and one that I want to capitalise on and develop further. Having County Fermanagh as part of that regional brand will encourage more visitors from the South to come and see the beautiful waterways of the Erne and the wider Fermanagh region. As I mentioned, we have a number of events coming up. Those new statistics show that investment in our tourism offering and product is delivering positive supports. I will continue to focus on that and ensure that tourism remains —.
292 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.50 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.78 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.19 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.01 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.01 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:07 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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