Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of Proceedings - 5 June 2024
Committee for Infrastructure - Minutes of Proceedings 5 June 2024.pdf (194.1 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA(Chairperson)
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Danny Baker MLA
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Mr Keith Buchanan MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
Apologies:
Mr Mark Durkan MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Kinnear (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced in public session at 10:04 am.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
Cathal Boylan, Keith Buchanan and Peter McReynolds each declared an interest as members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson drew attention to the recently broadcast BBC Spotlight programme regarding the impact of pollution on Lough Neagh which raised a number of concerns regarding Northern Ireland Water (NI Water), including the dispensations that NI Water receives from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Agreed: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for details of any plans to remove the arrangements that are in place in respect of NI Water.
Agreed: To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for his assessment of the impact that the removal of the dispensation will have on NI Water, including any potential financial impact; and to request data on the nature of discharges around Lough Neagh, including overspills, that NI Water is responsible for.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.
5. Matters Arising
None.
6. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
- Correspondence from the Committee for the Economy from the Department of Finance in respect of City and Growth Deals and related governance arrangements.
- Investment Strategy Northern Ireland (ISNI) Investing Activity Report for the Department for Infrastructure for May 2024.
- Written evidence from Cycul on Active Travel.
7. Road and Public Transport Safety Police Service of Northern Ireland – Oral Evidence
The following representative joined the meeting at 10:10 am:
- Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The representative provided the Committee with an overview of the key issues and challenges when policing the road and public transport networks.
A question and answer session followed.
The oral evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The representative agreed to provide further information as requested during the evidence session.
The evidence session ended at 11:36 am.
8. Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030 – Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership - Oral Evidence
The evidence session commenced at 11:36 am with:
- Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, Chairperson, Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership.
The representative provided the Committee with an overview of the role of the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership in the Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030.
The representative agreed to provide further information as requested during the evidence session.
The representative left the meeting at 12:31 pm.
Peter McReynolds left the meeting at 12:31 pm.
Agreed: To inform the Minister for Justice of the Committee’s view of the importance of adequate investment in policing to contribute to the implementation the Road Safety Strategy; and request clarification of any discussions between the Department of Justice and DfI regarding potential increases in fines and penalties for traffic offences.
Danny Baker left the meeting at 12:35 pm.
Agreed: To ask DfI for its analysis of the effectiveness of expenditure on road safety education and advertising.
Agreed: To ask BBC NI and UTV what advertising they could provide regarding road safety in Northern Ireland.
9. SR 2024-108 – The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024
The Committee considered SR2024-108 The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024.
The Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules had raised no concerns regarding the technical aspects of the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR2024-108 The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 and has no objection to the rule.
Members noted ongoing concerns with regard to the planning system.
10. SR 2024-111 The Parkgate Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024
The Committee considered SR2024-111 The Parkgate Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
The Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules had raised no concerns regarding the technical aspects of the Statutory Rule.
Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR2024-111 The Parkgate Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 and has no objection to the rule.
11. Subordinate Legislations – SRs Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings
The Committee noted the following Statutory Rules not subject to Assembly Proceedings:
- SR2024-120 The Prohibition of U-turn (Ballygawley) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
- SR2024-121 The Road Races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
12. Subordinate Legislation – SL1s Not Subject to Assembly Proceedings
The Committee noted the following proposal for Subordinate Legislation not subject to Assembly Proceedings:
- SL1 – The Waiting Restrictions (Royal Hillsborough) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
13. Water and Sewerage Charge – Options for Revenue Raising – High Level Summary Report on Consultation Response – Written Evidence
The Committee noted the High Level Summary Report provided by DfI on the response to the consultation on Water and Sewerage Charge – Options for Revenue Raising.
14. 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 and to proceed with the planned evidence sessions.
15. Any Other Business
None.
16. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 6 June 2024 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:45pm.
Mr John Stewart MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
12 June 2024
