Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of Proceedings - 17 September 2025

Committee for Infrastructure - 17 September 2025.pdf (199.89 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast

 

Present:

Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

Mr Peter McReynolds MLA

 

Via Video Conference:

Ms Nicola Brogan MLA

 

Apologies:

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

 

In Attendance:

Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Philip Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)

Mr Oliver Briant (Clerical Officer)

 

The meeting commenced in public session at 10:03 am.

 

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, 10 September 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

None.

 

6. Correspondence

An update from the Minister for Infrastructure on the Translink Night-mover Service pilot scheme.

Agreed: To write to the Minister requesting that the Committee continues to be updated on the commencement date for the pilot.

Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the estimated cost of the scheme and projected timeframe of the pedestrianisation of Hill Street, Belfast.

Agreed: To write to the Minister requesting that the Committee continues to be updated once the scheme is implemented.

Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force offering to provide evidence on nature-based solutions to support the Climate Action Plan and wider infrastructure benefits.

Agreed: To write to the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force to request a written paper in the first instance.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure on the costs of the PWC forensic review of Northern Ireland Water;
  • Department for Infrastructure correspondence on the Experimental Traffic Control Scheme (ETCS); and
  • Correspondence from Pivotal highlighting the publication of its report '8 months of the Northern Ireland Executive: a review'.

 

7. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill - Assembly Research and Information Service - Oral Briefing

The researcher joined the meeting at 10:09 am.

  • Mr Des McKibbin, Research Office, Assembly Research and Information Service

The researcher briefed the Committee on the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.

Mr Justin McNulty MLA joined the meeting at 10:21 am.

A question and answer session followed.

Agreed: The research officer undertook to undertake further research to examine:

  • examples of modelling by other councils;
  • what impact sustainable drainage systems have had in reducing the costs of household insurance; and
  • whether flood protection grants are offered to commercial properties in other jurisdictions.

The researcher left the meeting at 11:03 am.

 

8. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill - Department for Infrastructure - Oral Evidence

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:05 am.

  • Alison Clydesdale - Director of Water and Drainage Policy, Department for Infrastructure;
    • Julie Ann Dutton - Water Policy and Legislation, Department for Infrastructure;
    • Jim McComish - Water Policy and Legislation, Department for Infrastructure; and
    • Stuart Wightman - Sustainable Drainage Directorate, Department for Infrastructure.

The departmental officials provided the Committee with oral evidence on the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr John Stewart assumed the role of the Chairperson at 11:44 am.

Mr Peter Martin left the meeting at 11:44 am.

Mr Peter Martin re-joined the meeting at 11:47 am and resumed the role of the Chairperson.

The departmental officials left the meeting at 12:07 pm.

Mr Justin McNulty left the meeting at 12:07 pm.

Agreed: To invite the Examiner for Statutory Rules to attend Committee at a future meeting to provide a briefing on the delegated powers within the Bill.

Agreed: To write to DfI to seek further detail on the number of occurrences recorded on unlawful communication with the water system as undertaken by departmental officials in the course of the session.

The Committee noted procedural advice from the Clerk to the Committee and considered a list of stakeholders that it might wish to invite to provide evidence during scrutiny of the Bill.

Agreed: that members will notify the Chairperson and Clerk to the Committee of any organisations that they may wish to propose to be added for consideration at a future meeting when considering the Committee's approach.

 

9. SR 2025-138 The Penalty Charges (Prescribed Devices) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SR 2025-138 The Penalty Charges (Prescribed Devices) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2025-138 The Penalty Charges (Prescribed Devices) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and has no objection to the rule.

 

10. SL1 - The U324 Cannyreagh Road, Donaghadee (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SL1 - The U324 Cannyreagh Road, Donaghadee (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the proposal for the statutory rule.

The Committee noted the content of information contained in the correspondence relating to the objections received for this proposal.

Agreed: To write to the DfI seeking:

  • An overview the process for communicating with those objecting to proposals for statutory rules to establish whether objectors are routinely asked to withdraw or if they wish to withdraw their objection; and
  • the number of occasions objectors were asked to withdraw or wish to withdraw their objections by the developer, Planning Service and DfI Roads in this case.

 

11. SL1 - The Mill Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SL1 - The Mill Avenue, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the proposal for the statutory rule.

 

12. SL1 - The U1105 Killybracken Road, Dungannon (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

The Committee considered SL1 - The U1105 Killybracken Road, Dungannon (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

Agreed: That the Committee is content with the proposal for the statutory rule.

 

13. Subordinate Legislation - SL1s Not Subject to Assembly Procedure

The Committee noted the following proposals for Statutory Rules, which are not subject to Assembly Proceedings:

  • SL1 - The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025; and
  • SL1 - The Control of Traffic (Island Street Area, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.

 

14. Forward Work Programme

The Committee discussed evidence received in the course of the oral evidence from departmental officials on the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill (Agenda Item 8).

Agreed: To write to Northern Ireland Water Ireland to highlight that, in examining the provisions of the Bill, the Committee would be interested explore the extent of any historical data held or any assessments undertaken relating to private drainage infrastructure.

The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: To proceed with the scheduled evidence as set out in the draft Forward Work Programme and to reflect to any changes agreed in the course of the meeting.

 

15. Any Other Business

None.

 

16. Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 24 September 2025 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:24 pm.

 

Mr Peter Martin

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

24 September 2025