Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings

22 September 2021

 

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present

Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Roy Beggs MLA

Mr Andrew Muir MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins MLA

Mr George Robinson MLA

Apologies: Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA (Chairperson)

In Attendance:

Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr William Kinnear (Clerical Supervisor)

The meeting commenced at 10:02 am in public session.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Chairpersons Business

None.

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 15 September 2021.

4. Matters Arising

None.

5. Correspondence

Invitation from Northern Ireland Water to the launch of The Power of Water Report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

Invitation from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to a UN Climate Change Conference.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding EU Regulations – Executive and Assembly Processes. Regulation 2021/414 pertaining to electronic systems for the exchange and storage of import/export information.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and forward a copy to the Department for comment on any responsibility they have for these matters.

Copy of the Mineral Products Association Northern Ireland response to Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on when to phase out the sale of new, nonzero emission (diesel fuelled) heavy goods vehicles.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

Invitation the Northern Ireland Local Government Association to COP26 'Zero Carbon bus tour, at Parliament Buildings

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the planning application for the Proposed 4-Storey office development for science and IT based business (Phase2), Location: former Fort George site, Bay Road, Derry Londonderry.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

Response from Lisburn Chamber of Commerce to the Minister for Infrastructure regarding Controlled Parking Zones.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and forward a copy to the Department for information and comment.

Copy correspondence from Lord Jay to Baroness Vere - Protocol – motor vehicle alcohol interlock installation, driver drowsiness warning systems, emergency lane- keeping systems.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and forward a copy to the Department and The Executive Office for information and comment.

Copy correspondence from Lord Jay to Baroness Vere – Protocol standardised access to vehicle on-board diagnostics information, repair, maintenance information and access to vehicle security information

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and forward a copy to the Department and The Executive Office for information and comment.

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure regarding the consultation on the increase in taxi fares.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and request that the Department brief the Committee with the results of the Call for Evidence with its proposed recommendations.

6. SL1 - The Planning (Development Management) (Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

The Committee considered the SL1 - The Planning (Development Management) (Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.

Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the statutory rule.

7. Subordinate Legislation - SRs - Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings

The Committee considered the following SR not subject to any Assembly proceedings.

•  SR 2021-256 The Road Races (Tour of the Sperrins Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the Statutory Rule.

8. SR 2021-152 The Trunk Road T4 (Loughbrickland to Hillsborough) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021

The Committee considered SR 2021-152 The Trunk Road T4 (Loughbrickland to Hillsborough) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021. The Order provides that 10353 metres of new and upgraded road shall become trunk road and be part of the Belfast to Newry Trunk Road T4.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2021-152 The Trunk Road T4 (Loughbrickland to Hillsborough) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.

9. Committee Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland – Briefing from assembly Research and Information Service

The researcher joined the meeting at 10:08 am.

Mr Desmond McKibbin, Assembly Research and Information Service

The researcher provided the Committee with an oral briefing.

Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 10:36 am.

A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson thanked the researcher for his attendance.

Agreed: The researcher agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the uptake of no interest loans for purchasing used electric vehicles in Scotland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish all responses to the inquiry on the Committee webpage.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish minutes of proceedings in relation to the inquiry on the Committee webpage.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish all minutes of evidence in relation to the inquiry on the Committee webpage.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish all correspondence, research papers and other papers in relation to the inquiry on the Committee webpage.

The researcher left the meeting at 11:56 am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information on what consideration it has given to implementing a Scotland type scheme for providing no interest loans for the purchase of used electric vehicles.