Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of proceedings 3 June 2026
Committee for Infrastructure Minutes of proceedings 3 June 2026.pdf (214.04 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast
Present:
Mr Peter Martin MLA (Chairperson)
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Harry Harvey MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA
Via Video Conferencing:
Mrs Sinéad Ennis MLA
Mr Justin McNulty MLA
Apologies:
None.
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 10:03 am in closed session.
1. Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill – Further Deliberations
The following official joined the meeting at 10:03 am:
- Ms Liz Marsh, Bill Clerk, Northern Ireland Assembly
Justin McNulty MLA joined the meeting at 10:08 am.
John Stewart MLA joined the meeting at 10:12 am.
The Committee considered and discussed a range of options as part of its continuing scrutiny of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.
Agreed: To commission a number of draft amendments from the Assembly’s Bill Office for consideration at a future meeting.
Agreed: To write to the Department for Infrastructure to highlight the areas within the Bill that the Committee considers amendments are necessary and to establish whether the Department would consider providing draft amendments.
The Committee move into public session at 10:34 am.
2. Apologies
As above.
3. Declaration of Interests
None.
4. Chairperson’s Business
None.
5. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
6. Matters Arising
None.
7. Correspondence
Correspondence from the Minister for Infrastructure’s highlighting her intention to make an oral statement on the North-South Ministerial Council Transport Sectoral meeting.
Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure inviting her to provide oral evidence to the Committee at a future meeting.
The Committee noted that, as indicated in a previous response from the Department, updated guidance was being developed in relation to climate change and flood risk.
Agreed: To write to the Department to seek an update on the development of the guidance.
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
- Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure detailing the indicative timescales for the introduction of the Harbours Bill.
- Committee for Communities correspondence regarding Retention and Disposal Schedules;
- Committee for Finance correspondence enclosing the Department for Finance’s 2025-26 Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn - April (R13) Position;
- Correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding the National Population Projections for Northern Ireland;
- A Public Petition titled ‘Road Safety Improvements for Dromara’ received from the Speaker’s Office;
- A copy of correspondence issued by Translink to residents in the proximity of the Ballymena Bus and Rail Station to notifying them of planned essential road works in the Galgorm Road and Waveney Road areas;
- An open letter regarding the Minister’s defence of Translink fares freeze despite possibility of cuts to services.
8. SL1 – The Road Races (Down Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – formal consideration
The Committee considered The Road Races (Down Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
9. SL1 – The Road Races (Ulster Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration
The Committee considered The Road Races (Ulster Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
10. SL1 – The U7487 Vicarage Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration
The Committee considered The U7487 Vicarage Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
11. SL1 – The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration
The Committee considered The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
12. SL1 – The Road Races (Mid-Antrim 150) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Formal Consideration
Stephen Dunne MLA left the meeting at 10:50 am.
The Committee considered The Road Races (Mid-Antrim 150) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rule.
13. SL1 – The Upper Dunmurry Lane, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Upper Dunmurry Lane, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed Statutory Rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.
Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 3 July 2026.
Agreed: That a briefing from officials is not required at this stage.
14. SL1 – The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed Statutory Rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.
Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 3 July 2026.
Agreed: That a briefing from departmental officials is not required at this stage.
15. SL1 – The Mayfield High Street, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Mayfield High Street, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed Statutory Rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.
Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 3 July 2026.
Agreed: That a briefing from departmental officials is not required at this stage.
16. SL1 – The Bradford Square, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Bradford Square, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Stephen Dunne MLA joined the meeting at 10:55 am.
Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed Statutory Rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.
Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 3 July 2026.
Agreed: That a briefing from departmental officials is not required at this stage.
17. SL1 – The Bankmore Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Bankmore Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed Statutory Rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.
Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 3 July 2026.
Agreed: That a briefing from departmental officials is not required at this stage.
18. SL1 – The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Cycle Routes (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed Statutory Rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.
Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 3 July 2026.
Agreed: That a briefing from departmental officials is not required at this stage.
19. SL1 – The Parking Places on Roads and Waiting Restrictions (Dungannon) (Northern Ireland) 2026 – Initial Consideration
The Committee considered the SL1 – The Parking Places on Roads and Waiting Restrictions (Dungannon) (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: To note receipt of the SL1 and the proposed Statutory Rule, which will be published as part of the call for views.
Agreed: That the SL1 will be considered at the meeting on 3 July 2026.
Agreed: That a briefing from departmental officials is not required at this stage.
20. SR 2026-97 The Control of Traffic (Durham Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026
The Committee considered the SR 2026-97 The Control of Traffic (Durham Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
Agreed: The Committee was content with the Statutory Rule.
21. Review of Regionally Significant Planning Applications – Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 11:01 am.
- Kathryn McFerran – Director of Regional Planning Policy and Casework, Department for Infrastructure;
- Rosemary Daly – Director of Regional Planning, Governance and Legislation, Department for Infrastructure; and
- Nicole Thompson – Regional Planning Policy & Casework, Department for Infrastructure.
The Committee agreed that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.
A question and answer session followed.
The Chairperson left the meeting at 11:58 am and the Deputy Chairperson assumed the role of Chairperson.
The Chairperson rejoined the meeting at 12:02 pm and assumed the role of Chairperson.
Sinéad Ennis MLA left the meeting at 12:37 pm.
The departmental officials left the meeting at 12:40 pm.
John Stewart MLA left the meeting at 12:40 pm.
Agreed: To write to the Department to seek further information on a range of issues arising in the course of the evidence.
22. 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.
23. Any Other Business
None.
24. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:44 pm.
Mr Peter Martin
Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
10 June 2026
