NEWS

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced further measures to support students. The additional support has been welcomed by NUS-USI President (pictured) Ben Friel. Thousands of students across Northern Ireland are set to receive increased financial support next year as the Executive moves to ease mounting cost-of-living pressures facing those in higher education. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced a package of measures for the 2026/27 academic year

Micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people will be exempt from proposed new trade union workplace access rules after Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald announced a significant change to the Good Jobs Bill following pressure and engagement from businesses and trade unions. The move marks one of the first major revisions to the flagship employment rights legislation as it moves closer to Assembly scrutiny, with the Minister signalling a willingness to alter proposals in re

Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald and Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt with Commission Chair, Alan Milburn (second from right). More than 315,000 working-age people in Northern Ireland are currently economically inactive — the highest rate anywhere in the UK — with disability and long-term ill health now driving more than a third of those cases. The stark figures come as Stormont ministers unveiled a new cross-government Commission on Work a

Northern Ireland Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has outlined sweeping employment reforms which could significantly change workplace rights for thousands of workers and families across Northern Ireland. The proposed Good Jobs Bill includes new protections for pregnant employees, rights for zero-hours workers to secure more stable contracts, neonatal leave and pay for parents of sick babies, and new unpaid leave for carers. The legislation

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at the GeoEnergy Discovery Centre at this year’s Balmoral Show as she launches a consultation on proposals to introduce a new regulatory framework for geothermal energy in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is preparing to open the door to large-scale geothermal energy development for the first time, as the Stormont Economy Minister unveiled plans for a new regulatory system designed to unlock the “heat beneath our feet”. The m

Sainsbury’s in Ballymena Motorists across Northern Ireland have been reassured that fuel continues to be delivered as normal, despite reports over the weekend of shortages at a small number of local filling stations. The reassurance from Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald comes as drivers face a sharp rise in costs at the pumps, with new figures showing petrol and diesel prices have climbed to their highest levels in more than two years. Dr Archibald said there is no conf

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has today published the Northern Ireland’s first Aviation Policy for consultation. Pictured (L-R) are Katy Best, Chief Commercial Officer, Belfast City Airport, Dan Owens, CEO, Belfast International, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald and Steve Frazer, Managing Director, City of Derry Airport. A major new aviation policy designed to strengthen Northern Ireland’s global connections and drive economic growth has been launched — with ambi

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald pictured with the new regulations Northern Ireland is set to become the first region on these islands to provide paid leave for parents affected by miscarriage, in what has been described as a “meaningful difference” for thousands of families each year. From 6 April 2026, new regulations confirmed by Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald will give working parents the right to take up to two weeks of paid leave following a miscarriage, ext

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at the Giant’s Causeway. Visitor numbers from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland surged in 2025, delivering a major boost to the local economy with spending jumping by almost a third in a single year. New figures show a 15% rise in trips from the south, alongside a striking 31% increase in visitor spending — a trend being hailed as a powerful sign of growing cross-border tourism momentum. Strong growth in trips and sp

Inset: Northern Ireland Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald Households facing a sudden surge in energy costs must receive urgent and meaningful support, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has said following discussions with the British Government. Speaking after a meeting on Saturday evening, 14 March, with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Martin McCluskey MP, the Minister said intervention must be “meaningful, targete

Inset: Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister has moved to clarify what she describes as “misleading” claims about an £81 million support package aimed at helping households with electricity bills. Dr Caoimhe Archibald said inaccurate assertions about the funding risk confusing the public at a time when many families are already worried about rising energy costs. The funding, announced in the British Chancellor’s Autumn 20

Pictured left to right are Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Hugh Cormican, CEO of Cirdan, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Alison Currie, Chief Development Officer, Invest NI. A £12.9 million investment by Cirdan Imaging is set to create 72 highly skilled jobs while strengthening Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre for life and health sciences innovation. Announced by the First Minister, deputy First Minister an

Households across Northern Ireland are facing a sharp and immediate spike in home heating costs, with prices rising by more than 60% since last Friday — prompting urgent cross-government talks and a warning that “any unjustified hike” is unacceptable. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has responded to escalating home heating oil and fuel prices, which have emerged in the wake of the action taken by the US and Israel against Iran. The situation has sparked fresh concerns f

farmdrive co-founders - Gareth Gordon, CTO, and Gareth McDonald, CEO A fast-growing agri-tech company founded by two men from the Ballymena area has secured a major six-figure investment to accelerate its next phase of growth — with new jobs and export expansion firmly in its sights. Antrim-based farmdrive has received £690,000 in equity funding through Techstart Ventures, part of Invest NI’s Access to Finance programme. The investment will support the development of its live

Northern Ireland is set to introduce statutory miscarriage leave and pay from April 2026, marking a significant extension of workplace protections for parents experiencing pregnancy loss. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has published the Department for the Economy’s consultation response on introducing statutory miscarriage leave and pay, confirming the creation of new legal rights for employees affected by miscarriage or other forms of pregnancy loss at any stage. The

Fibrus Networks Ltd appointed to deliver Project Gigabit. More than 9,000 rural homes and businesses across Northern Ireland are set to benefit from fast, reliable broadband under a major new £34.6 million infrastructure programme announced by the Economy Minister. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has confirmed that Fibrus Networks Ltd has been appointed to deliver Project Gigabit, the UK government-funded scheme aimed at bringing gigabit-capable broadband to hard-to-re

(L-R) are: Northern Ireland - 12 year old Megan McCabe from west Belfast, who plays for Linfield and the Irish FA’s Performance Programme which is based at Ulster University’s Jordanstown Campus; Wales - Sophia Huntley aged 9 who plays for Buckley Town, a thriving club with a committed volunteer base; Scotland - Erin Smith , who plays for Clark Drive and is in the South West Emerging Talent Centre programme; and England - Victoria Jones , 14 years old from Liverpool and

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has reiterated her commitment to strengthening workplace protections for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, confirming that legislation to implement the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (NI) 2022 will be introduced before the end of the current Assembly mandate. The Act, passed in 2022, requires the Department for the Economy to create regulations enabling workers affected by domestic abuse to access at least 10 days of paid “safe l

Pictured at the opening of Northern Regional College's £55million Ballymena Campus are (L-R) NRC Ballymena Campus Chief Executive and...

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has unveiled the Final Scheme Design for the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) , a major...