Minutes of Proceedings

Committee for Infrastructure minutes of proceedings Wednesday 2 October 2024.pdf (170.42 kb)

Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings - 2 October 2024

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Present:                               

Mrs Deborah Erskine MLA(Chairperson)

Mr Danny Baker MLA

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Mark Durkan MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

Via video conference:      

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan 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 10:01 am.

1. Apologies

None.

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 25 September 2024.

5. Matters Arising

The Chairperson expressed her thanks to the Members for their concise contributions during the oral evidence session with the Minister at the meeting on 25 September, which enabled discussion on a wide range of issues.

6. Statutory Instrument – SI 2024-XXX The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2024 – Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10:03 am:

• Mr David Strain, Transport Planning and Policy, Department for Infrastructure;
• Mrs Eilis Ferguson, Transport Planning and Policy, Department for Infrastructure; and
• Mr Patrick McEvoy, Transport Planning and Policy, Department for Infrastructure.

Mr Mark Durkan joined the meeting at 10:05 am

The Departmental officials provided the Committee with further information on the SI 2024-XXX The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2024.

A question and answer session followed.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

Mr John Stewart left the meeting at 10:33 am.

The Departmental officials left the meeting at 10:36 am.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

• Copy correspondence from the National Franchise Dealers Association to the Secretary of State for Transport;
• A response from the National Franchise Dealers Association on the weighting of fleet and private sales across the United Kingdom; and
• Correspondence from the Electric Vehicle Association for Northern Ireland in response to oral evidence from the National Franchise Dealers Association at the meeting on 25 September.

The Committee considered SI 2024-XXX The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2024.

The Chairperson advised Members that the Deputy Chairperson had another  engagement and had excused himself from the meeting, but had indicated to her that he was content to recommend that the Draft Statutory Instrument be affirmed.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered the Draft Statutory Instrument 2024-XXX The Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes (Amendment) Order 2024 and recommends that it be approved by the Assembly.

7. Any Other Business

The Committee discussed recent commentary over the increase in traffic congestion and travel delays on roads into Belfast and in Belfast city centre.

Agreed: To request a written briefing from the Department detailing the factors contributing to the increase in congestion and delays on routes into Belfast and around Belfast city centre and when it is expected that these issues will be alleviated.

8. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 9 October 2024 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:41 am.

Mrs Deborah Erskine
Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
9 October 2024