Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of proceedings 25 March 2026
Committee for Infrastructure minutes of proceedings 25 March 2026.pdf (215.75 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast
Present:
Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Harry Harvey MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
Via Video Conferencing:
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Apologies:
Mr Justin McNulty MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Michael Potter (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Aoife Keating-Fitzpatrick (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Mr Philip Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jonathan Lawless (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Oliver Briant (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 10:04 am in public session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
None.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson highlighted a number of items of correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure, including a copy of the recent written statement to the Assembly outlining her decision to seek to introduce Developer Contributions for Wastewater Infrastructure.
Agreed: To note the correspondence and to write to the Minister inviting her to provide oral evidence on the work undertaken by the Department following the oral evidence on 25 November 2025 to inform her decision to proceed with progressing developer contributions.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.
5. Matters Arising
None.
6. Correspondence
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence relating to the timing for receipt of the Department’s Spring Supplementary Estimates (SSE) Memorandum.
Agreed: To write to the Minister to highlight that, as she will be aware, a Forward Work Programme is indicative and takes account of the potential for changes in Assembly business and, in view of the date of sign off by the Permanent Secretary, to request that the Department takes account of the timely provision of papers in the future.
Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence in respect of the Department’s engagement when co-ordinating its response to extreme weather events.
Agreed: To write to the Minister to seek further detail on how response plans will be communicated with up-to-date information to relevant residents’ groups and elected representatives in future instances of extreme weather events.
Response from the Electric Vehicle Association Northern Ireland (EVANI) to the UK Government’s consultation on eVED, the proposed new pay-per-mile tax for electric vehicles.
Agreed: To write to the Department enclosing the EVANI’s response to the consultation requesting a response to the issues raised and to establish what engagement the Department has had with the UK Government on the proposal.
Correspondence from Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) regarding the Department for Infrastructure motorcyclist related safety promotion.
Agreed: To write to DfI enclosing the response from the MAG seeking a response to the issues raised within its paper.
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
- Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence requesting further detail on what work the Department is undertaking to provide strengthened regulation of private car park operators;
- Response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee’s correspondence on staffing and resource constraints in maintaining the road network;
- Department for Infrastructure correspondence confirming the award of the MOT Vehicle Testing Equipment contract; and
- Correspondence from the Committee for Justice enclosing a response from the Department of Justice regarding the recording of images at Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs).
7. Potential Review of Planning Related Issues – Draft Terms of Reference
The Committee considered draft Terms of Reference, draft Call for Evidence and indicative timetable for its proposed review of planning-related matters.
Agreed: The draft Terms of Reference for the review was agreed.
Agreed: The draft Call for Evidence was agreed.
Agreed: The draft indicative timetable for the review was agreed.
Agreed: To commission the Assembly’s Research and Information Service (RaISe) to prepare a list of suggested stakeholders that could be invited to contribute to the review.
The Committee moved in to closed session at 10:32 am.
8. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill – Bill Clerk – Oral Briefing
The Bill Clerk joined the meeting at 10:32 am.
- Liz Marsh, Bill Clerk, Northern Ireland Assembly.
A question and answer session followed.
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA left the meeting at 11:02 am.
The Bill Clerk left the meeting at 11:24 am.
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA left the meeting at 11:25 am
Mr John Stewart MLA left the meeting at 11:26 am.
Agreed: To write to the Examiner of Statutory Rules enclosing the Department’s response of 9 December seeking her view on the response and to invite her to provide any suggested areas requiring further clarity ahead of the scheduled oral evidence with departmental officials on 15 April 2026.
The Committee noted a draft letter to the Department to follow up on a number of matters relevant to the Bill.
Agreed: To write to the Department seeking a response to issues arising in the course of the Committee’s scrutiny of the Bill.
The Committee moved into public session at 11:30 am.
9. Graduated Driver Licensing Proposed Subordinate Legislation – Stakeholders – Oral Evidence
The representatives joined the meeting at 11:30 am.
- Mark Shepherd, Assistant Director and Head of General Insurance, ABI
- Carly Brookfield, Driving Instructors Association (DIA); and
- David Boyles, Secretary, Northern Ireland Approved Instructors Council (NIAIC).
The Committee agreed that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.
A question and answer session followed.
Mr Peter Martin MLA left the meeting at 11:53 am and Mr John Stewart MLA assumed the role of Chairperson.
Mr Peter Martin MLA re-joined the meeting at 11:58 am and resumed the role of Chairperson.
The representatives left the meeting at 12:28 pm.
Agreed: To write to the ABI to seek further detail, as undertaken, on what historical data can be routinely shared and published to illustrate the average cost of premiums by region across the United Kingdom and on the legal position in respect of liability for instructors when signing off the modules as set out under the proposed statutory rules.
Agreed: To write to the NIAIC inviting it to provide further detail of issues highlighted by its membership in respect of GDLs.
Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure to:
- highlight the concerns expressed during the oral evidence in respect of the lack of consultation with the driving instructor sector;
- refer to the impact on rural communities and accessibility to use motorways due to their lack of proximity to them; and
- ask whether she considers that the indicative target date as outlined will be sufficient in light of the evidence received.
Agreed: To write to the Minister for Justice enclosing a copy of the ABI’s written evidence on the increased levels of the insurance premiums payable by motorists in Northern Ireland due to the different legal provisions compared to other UK regions and her view on whether such increases are justifiable.
The Committee suspended at 12:39pm.
The Committee resumed at 12:46 pm with the following Members present:
Present:
Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Harry Harvey MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
10. Graduated Driver Licensing Proposed Subordinate Legislation – Northern Ireland Youth Assembly – Oral Evidence
The representatives joined the meeting at 12:46 pm.
- Mr Andrew McClean, Representative, Northern Ireland Youth Assembly;
- Ms Emily Murray, Representative, Northern Ireland Youth Assembly;
- Ms Áine Donnelly, Representative, Northern Ireland Youth Assembly;
- Mr Kian Ruddy, Representative, Northern Ireland Youth Assembly; and
- Mr Reuben Beattie, Representative, Northern Ireland Youth Assembly.
The Committee agreed that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.
A question and answer session followed.
The representatives left the meeting at 13:08 pm.
Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure to highlight the recent oral evidence from members of the Youth Assembly and to seek a response to the issues raised in their written evidence.
Agreed: To write to the Minister of Education to highlight the recent oral evidence from members of the Youth Assembly and to indicate that the Committee noted that road safety is not covered within the current curriculum for schools and to establish what scope there may be for this to be incorporated under the current curriculum review.
11. SL1 - The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Further Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 - The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: To receive further oral evidence from the Department for Infrastructure and schedule consideration at a future meeting.
12. SL1 – The Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Further Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
Agreed: To receive further oral evidence from the Department for Infrastructure and schedule consideration at a future meeting.
13. SL1 – The Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Further Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
Agreed: To receive further oral evidence from the Department for Infrastructure and schedule consideration at a future meeting.
14. SL1 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Further Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Agreed: To receive further oral evidence from the Department for Infrastructure and schedule consideration at a future meeting.
15. SL1 – The Road Races (Spamount Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration – Formal Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
16. SL1 – The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
17. SR 2026-40 The Malone Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
The Committee considered the SR 2026-40 The Malone Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2026-40 The Malone Road, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and has no objection to the rule.
18. SR 2026-41 The Drumnagoon Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
The Committee considered the SR 2026-41 The Drumnagoon Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2026-41 The Drumnagoon Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and has no objection to the rule.
19. SR 2026-42 The Quay Pass, Enniskillen (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
The Committee considered the SR 2026-42 The Quay Pass, Enniskillen (Abandonment) Order (Northen Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: That the Committee for Infrastructure has considered SR 2026-42 The Quay Pass, Enniskillen (Abandonment) Order (Northen Ireland) 2026 and has no objection to the rule.
20. Forward Work Programme
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 during the meeting.
21. Any Other Business
None.
22. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:36 pm.
Mr Peter Martin
Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
15 April 2026
