Minutes of Proceedings

Minutes of 15 May 2024.pdf (776.48 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present:

Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA(Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Mark Durkan MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Apologies:               

Mr Danny Baker MLA 

In Attendance:     

Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr William Kinnear (Clerical Officer)
                        

The meeting commenced in public session at 10:05 am.

The Chairperson formally welcomed Mr Andrew McMurray MLA to the Committee for Infrastructure.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

3. Chairperson’s Business

None

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.

5. Matters Arising

None.

6. Correspondence

Correspondence from the Chairperson of the House of Lords European Affairs Windsor Framework Sub-Committee to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport, regarding a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament relating to circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end of-life vehicles.

Agreed: To forward to Committee for the Economy and the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Agreed: To ask the Department for Infrastructure to clarify whether it has any responsibility for any matters within contained under the proposed Regulations.

Written briefing paper from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) regarding their role in the community and voluntary sector.

Agreed: To note and to consider further at an appropriate time in the forward work programme.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

• Department for Infrastructure response to the Committee’s request for additional information as part of its pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Water, Flooding and Draining Bill on 24 April 2024.
• Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the request for additional information following the Committee’s meeting on 1 May 2024.
• Publication of Northern Ireland Fiscal Council’s report on ‘The NI Executive’s 2024025 Budget: an assessment’.
• Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure on the initiation of the process to appoint councillors to the Drainage Council Northern Ireland.

7. Overview of the Role and Functions of the Department for Infrastructure in Supporting City Deals – Department for Infrastructure oral evidence 

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:11 am:

• Jonathan Saulters – Director of Major Projects, Department for Infrastructure (DfI);
• Darren Campbell – Principal Professional Technical Officer, DfI; and
• Brian McClelland – Principal Professional Technical Officer, DfI.

The officials provided the Committee with an overview of the role of Department for Infrastructure in supporting City Deals.

A question and answer session followed.

The oral evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The officials agreed to provide further information as requested during the evidence session.

The officials left the meeting at 11:10 am.

8. The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order - Department for Infrastructure - Oral Evidence

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:13 am:

• David Strain – Transport Planning and Policy, DfI;
• Patrick McEvoy – Transport Planning and Policy, DfI; and
• Eilis Ferguson – Transport Planning and Policy, DfI.

The officials provided oral evidence on proposals for an Order to make provision for Northern Ireland to join the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes, which are already in place in the rest of the UK, with effect from 3 January 2025.

The Committee noted that the Order will be laid in the Assembly as a Draft Statutory Instrument at the same time as it is laid in the Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru and the Houses of Parliament, and will be subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure.

The Committee also noted that, as a Statutory Instrument, the Order will not fall within the remit of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

Mr Stephen Dunne left the meeting at 11:23 am.

Mr Mark Durkan left the meeting at 12:02 pm.

The officials agreed to provide further information as requested during the evidence session.

The officials left the meeting at 12:06 pm.

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

9. SL1 - The Kings Lane, Warrenpoint (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024

The following Departmental official joined the meeting at 12:07 pm.:

• Ronnie Balfour Head of Transport Legislation Branch, DfI.

The official provided oral evidence on SL1 - The Kings Lane, Warrenpoint (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.

Mr Mark Durkan re-joined the meeting at 12:14 pm.

Mr John Stewart left the meeting at 12:21 pm.

The official agreed to provide further information as requested during the evidence session.

The official left the meeting at 12:31 pm.

Agreed: To defer the decision on the policy proposals until the additional information requested has been received.

10. Subordinate Legislation – SRs – Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings

The Committee noted the following Statutory Rules not subject to Assembly Proceedings:

• SR 2024-109 The Parking Places and Waiting Restrictions (Moy) (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
• SR 2024-110 The Prohibition of Waiting (Schools) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
• SR 2024-112 The Waiting Restrictions (Eglinton) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
• SR 2024-113 The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024-184.

Agreed: To ask the Department for its assessment of the resources available to enforce regulations that relate to parking spaces and waiting restrictions.

11. Subordinate Legislation – SL1s – Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings

The Committee noted the following proposals for Subordinate Legislation not subject to Assembly Proceedings:

• SL1 - The Prohibition of U-Turn (Ballygawley) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
• SL1 - The Road Races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.

12. Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030 - revised draft Strategy Department for Infrastructure – Written Evidence

Agreed: To note the draft revised ‘Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030’ and consider it further during the scheduled oral evidence sessions on road safety.

Agreed: To request a copy of the report on careless driving.

13. Motor insurance premiums across the United Kingdom – Research and Information Service (RaISe) – Written Briefing

Agreed: To note the RaISe briefing ‘Motor insurance premiums across the United Kingdom’ and consider it further upon the conclusion of the work being undertaken by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Economy providing a copy of a written briefing paper from the Association of British Insurers on the motor insurance industry in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: To forward the paper to the DfI to request an update on the implementation of the provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, including plans in respect of those that have yet to be commenced.

14. Alternatives to fossil fuels for passenger cars – Research and Information Service – Written Briefing

Agreed: To note the RaISe briefing ‘Alternatives to fossil fuels for passenger cars’ and consider it further when relevant to the Committee’s future work.

15. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the Draft Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: To update the draft Forward Work Programme to reflect any decisions taken today.

16. Any Other Business

None.

17. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 29 May 2024 at 10:00 am in the Belfast Grand Central Station Transport Hub.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:47 pm.

Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

29 May 2024