Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of Proceedings - 3 November 2021
Minutes of 3 November 2021.pdf (217.35 kb)
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA(Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Ms Cara Hunter MLA
Ms Liz Kimmins MLA
Mr George Robinson MLA
Apologies:
Mr Pádraig Delargey MLA
Mr Andrew Muir MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim McManus (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
The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee has been invited to a Sustrans event on Wednesday 10 November 2021 in Parliament Buildings to familiarise Members with E-Bikes.
3. Draft Minutes.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20 October 2021.
4. Matters Arising
None.
5. Correspondence
Correspondence from a member of the public regarding a planning complaint.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note and forward the correspondence to the Department for information.
Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry & BDO providing a copy of the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Summary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.
Copy correspondence from the House of Lords – Baroness Andrews to Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Commercial Transport and Operator Licensing Framework and the Driver Licensing Framework.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note and forward the correspondence to the Department for information.
Invitation from Queen’s University Belfast to ‘In Conversation with Professor Andrew Heyn’, a live online event brought to you by the of The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and Public Engagement.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to issues arising from the Committee for Infrastructure meeting on 6 October 2021.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the relevant extracts of the response to the organisations who raised the issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department providing further information on the issues raised regarding Carrickcroppan Hill.
Response from Translink to Committee correspondence regarding pressures on the Northern Ireland Railway (NIR) rail network.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.
Correspondence from Queen’s University Belfast regarding ‘Open Botanic’ Report – an active travel and healthy street strategy for Botanic Avenue, Belfast and an offer to brief Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to ask her how the report is being integrated into her Vision for Belfast plans.
Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure regarding the launch of a Public Consultation on - A New Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to issues arising from the Committee for Infrastructure meeting on 13 October 2021.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the relevant extracts of the response to the organisations who raised the issue.
Invitation from Translink to an event to preview the new Zero Emissions Electric Buses.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Translink to decline the invitation as it coincides with a Committee meeting but that the Committee would like to avail of the opportunity to view the new buses at a future date.
6. Subordinate Legislation – SL1s – Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings
The Committee consideredthe following SL1 not subject to any Assembly proceedings.
- SL1 – The Traffic Weight Restriction (Clady) (Northern Ireland) Order 2021
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
7. Subordinate Legislation – SRs – Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings
The Committee consideredthe following SR not subject to any Assembly proceedings.
- SR 2021-290 The Road Races (Ulster Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the Statutory Rule.
8. Departmental Briefing - Update on MOT and Driving Test back logs
The Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:09 am
Mr Jeremy Logan, Chief Executive, Driver and Vehicle Agency
Mr Pat Delaney, Director of Operations, Driver and Vehicle Agency
The Departmental officials provided the Committee with an oral briefing.
A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting an update, when available, on a recent court case in relation to taxi enforcement and whether the outcome of any such legal action has implications for DVA’s future enforcement work.
Agreed: The officials agreed to provide statistics in relation to the numbers of vehicles that have failed MOT tests broken down by age of vehicle.
Agreed: The officials agreed to provide statistics in relation DVA staffing pre- and post-Covid.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting that staff involved with vehicle testing have an opportunity to participate in the consultation on Biennial testing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request monthly update figures in relation to driving tests and MOTs.
The Chairperson thanked the Departmental officials for their attendance.
The Departmental officials left the meeting at 11: 08 am.
9. Briefing from Assembly Research and Information Service on Frequency of MOT Testing
The researcher joined the meeting at 11:11 am
Mr Des McKibbin, Assembly Research and Information Service
The researcher provided the Committee with an oral briefing.
A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The researcher agreed to provide the Committee with details on other jurisdictions that reduced the frequency of MOT testing and any problems encountered as a result; and on the financial impact of the move to biennial MOT testing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission a further research paper in relation to road safety and the correlation with testing frequency.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting information on the financial impact of moving to a biennial testing schedule.
The Chairperson thanked the Research Officer for his attendance.
The Research Officer left the meeting at 11:24 am
The Committee moved into closed session at 11:24 am.
10. Committee Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland - Consideration of Report
The Committee considered its Draft Inquiry Report into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland.
The Committee resumed public session at 11:53 am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Cover Page, Contents Pages, Powers and Membership stand part of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Executive Summary including the recommendations as amended stand part of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 stand part of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Appendices stand part of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish a copy of the report on the Committee webpage.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the report to all Departments for a response to the recommendations.
The Committee considered a number of alternative proposals for the wording of a Committee Motion.
Original Proposal:
That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Infrastructure on its Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland [NIA 136/17‐22]; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure and her Executive colleagues to implement the recommendations contained in the Report to work towards the goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The question was put that the Committee is content with the proposal.
The Committee divided: Ayes 2; Noes 5; Abstain 0
AYES NOES
Mr Cathal Boylan Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Liz Kimmins Mr Roy Beggs
Mr David Hilditch
Ms Cara Hunter
Mr George Robinson
The proposal did not pass.
Mr Muir Proposal
That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Infrastructure on its Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland [NIA 136/17‐22]; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure and her Executive colleagues to implement the recommendations contained in the Report to work towards the goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions in line with targets set in Climate Change Bill(s) to be passed by the Assembly.
The question was put that the Committee is content with the proposal.
The Committee divided: Ayes 3; Noes 4; Abstain 0
AYES NOES
Mr Cathal Boylan Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Liz Kimmins Mr Roy Beggs
Ms Cara Hunter Mr David Hilditch
Mr George Robinson
The proposal did not pass.
Mr Beggs amended Proposal
That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Infrastructure on its Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland [NIA 136/17‐22]; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure and her Executive colleagues to implement the recommendations contained in the Report as a fair contribution to meet the UK Climate Change Committee’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or earlier.
The question was put that the Committee is content with the proposal.
The Committee divided: Ayes 4; Noes 3; Abstain 0
AYES NOES
Mr Jonathan Buckley Mrs Cathal Boylan
Mr Roy Beggs Ms Cara Hunter
Mr David Hilditch Ms Liz Kimmins
Mr George Robinson
The proposal was passed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to table the agreed motion in the Business Office.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered the Draft Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a meeting in the Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena followed by a visit to Wrightbus on Wednesday 17 November 2021.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a meeting and visit to Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council on Wednesday 8 December 2021.
12. Any Other Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting clarity in respect of the timetable for the recommencement of road resurfacing work.
13. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The Committee agreed that the next meeting would be on Wednesday, 10 November 2021 at 10:00 am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 pm.
