Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings 9 March 2022

Infrastructure Committee minutes 9 March 2022.pdf (188.55 kb)

Meeting Location:
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present:
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA(Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Ms Cara Hunter MLA
Mr Andrew Muir MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA
Ms Liz Kimmins MLA
Mr George Robinson MLA

Apologies:
None

In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Vincent Gribbin (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)

The meeting commenced at 10:00 am in public session.

The Committee agreed to move to Agenda item 11.

11.     Briefing by Logistics UK – Update on issues facing the freight/haulage sector

The representatives joined the meeting at 10:04 am.

• Mr Seamus Leheny, Logistics UK
• Ms Fiona Derry, Derry Refrigerated Transport
• Mr Nick McCullough, Manfreight

The representatives provided the Committee with an oral briefing.

A question and answer session followed.

Roy Beggs left the meeting at 10:20 am as he was required to take the Chair in the Chamber at the commencement of an additional plenary meeting necessitating his absence from the Committee meeting.

George Robinson joined the meeting at 10:26 am

Andrew Muir left the meeting at 10:29 am as he was required in the Chamber for an additional plenary meeting, necessitating his absence from the Committee meeting.

Cara Hunter left the meeting at 10:48 am as she was required in the Chamber for an additional plenary meeting, necessitating his absence from the Committee meeting.

The Chairperson thanked officials for the briefing.

The representatives left the meeting at 11.20 am.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to write to The Financial Secretary to the Treasury to seek an urgent stay to the ending of the red diesel rebate given the rapid increase in fuel prices and the impact this is having on the industries reliant on it which will ultimately impact Northern Ireland consumers, and to urge the Treasury to consider a decrease in fuel duty.

Agreed          The Committee agreed to include in its Legacy Report for the incoming Committee for Infrastructure, a suggested work stream to consider bringing forward a Bill to extend HGV driver testing to hauliers.

The Committee agreed to move to Agenda item 12.

12.    Briefing by Hydrogen NI – Potential clean hydrogen offers to Northern Ireland’s Economy and decarbonisation goals

The representatives joined the meeting at 11:21 am.

• Mr David Surplus, B9 Energy Group
• Mr Gary Borland, KPMG Ireland
• Mr Les Ross, Les Ross Planning

The representatives provided the Committee with an oral briefing.

A question and answer session followed.

Roy Beggs returned to the meeting at 12:14 pm

The Chairperson thanked officials for the briefing.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.17 pm.

The Committee agreed to move to Agenda item 1.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Chairpersons Business

None.

3. Draft Minutes.

Agreed:      The Committee agreed the draft minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 2 March 2022 as amended.

4. Matters Arising

None.

5. Correspondence

Correspondence from a member of public regarding noise pollution from Strangford Ferry.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to note the response and forward to Department for information.

NI Human Rights Commission Draft Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to note the Strategic Plan.

NI Water response to Committee request for additional information from meeting 2 February 2022.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

Investing Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) - Activity Report - February 2022.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to note the report.

Correspondence from a member of public regarding dangerous roads Craigahulliar, Portrush.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to forward the response to Department for information.

Correspondence from the Committee for the Economy regarding Feminist Recovery Plan (FRP).

Agreed:        The Committee agreed forward the response to the Department for comment.

Correspondence from the Speaker regarding a ‘Public Petition regarding ‘Save Stonebridge, Conlig’.

Agreed:        The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding Ministerial decision - Hazardous Substance Consent for the storage/use of Gas Oil.

Agreed:        The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

Examiner of Statutory Rules Sixteenth Report of the 2021-2022 session.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to note the report.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding issues arising from Committee meeting on 16 February 2022.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to suggest in its Legacy Report for this mandate that the successor Committee may wish to follow up on the Department’s engagement with the Angling community on the Reservoirs’ legislation.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to suggest in its Legacy Report for this mandate that the successor Committee may wish to receive an update on the Department’s consideration of an exemption from taxi legislation for the wedding and funeral car sectors.

Response from the Minister for Infrastructure on issues arising from Committee meeting on 23 February 2022.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to note the response.

Examiner of Statutory Rules Seventeenth Report of the 2021-2022 session.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed to note the report.

6.  Subordinate Legislation –SL1s – Not subject to Assembly Proceedings

The Committee considered the following SL1s.

• SL1 The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022
• SL1 The Road Races (Craigantlet Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022
• SL1 The Road Races (Cookstown 100 Motor Cycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022
• SL1 The Road Races (Tandragee 100) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022
• SL1 The Road Races (Circuit of Ireland Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Agreed:         The Committee was content with the proposals for the Statutory Rules.

7.  SL1 The B3 Main Street, Markethill (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

The Committee considered the SL1 The B3 Main Street, Markethill (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland)

Agreed:         The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.

8. SL1 The A6 Castledawson By-Pass (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

The Committee considered the SL1 The A6 Castledawson By-Pass (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Agreed:         The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.

9. SL1 The Railways (Safety Management) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

The Committee considered the SL1 The Railways (Safety Management) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Agreed          The Committee reserved its position on the proposal for the Statutory Rule.

10.  SR 2022-66 The Vennel, Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022.

The Committee considered the SR 2022-66 The Vennel, Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Agreed:         The Committee for Infrastructure agreed to considered theSR 2022-66 The Vennel, Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 when the Examiner of Statutory Rules has reported on the Rule.

13. Committee for Infrastructure Legacy Report

The Committee considered the draft Legacy Report.

Agreed          The Committee agreed amend the Legacy Report to include a range of issues for final agreement at its meeting on 16 March 2022.

Forward Work Programme.

The Committee considered the Draft Forward Work Programme.

15. Any Other Business.

None.

16. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 16 March 2022 at 10:00 am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 12.31 pm.

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

16 March 2022