Committee for Infrastructure

Minutes of proceedings 16 September 2026

Committee for Infrastructure minutes of proceedings 16 September 2026.pdf (215.56 kb)

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

Present:

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA (Chairperson)

Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Paul Boggs MLA

Mr Cathal Boylan MLA

Mr Harry Harvey MLA

Mr Andrew McMurray MLA

Mr Justin McNulty MLA

Apologies:

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Via Videoconferencing:

Mr Peter McReynolds 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)

Ms Ally McNamara (Clerical Officer)

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

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

3. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson thanked Ms Sinéad Ennis for her contribution to the Committee and welcomed Mr Paul Boggs.

Agreed: To write to Ms Ennis to thank her for her contribution to the Committee’s work and to wish her well in the future.

The Chairperson referred to the recent verdict arising from the inquest surrounding the death of Noah Donohoe.

Agreed: To write to the Minister for Infrastructure to seek her response to the findings from the inquest and to request details of the Department’s inspection regime for storm drains.

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 9 September 2026.

5. Matters Arising

None.

6. Correspondence

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing copies of the revised Department of Finance and Department of Justice Section 59/Section 7 authorisation letters.

Agreed: To note in the context of the scheduled oral briefing on 30 September 2026.

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance enclosing a response from the Department for Finance in respect of a briefing by the Association of British Insurers on motor insurance premiums and claims.

Agreed: To write to the Committee for Finance to highlight that the Committee has recently written to the Department of Justice on the disparity of motor insurance premiums and claim awards.

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance providing the 2025-26 Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn – June (R3) & July (R4) Position.

Agreed: To note in the context of the scheduled oral briefing on 30 September 2026.

Correspondence from the Newcastle Concerned Residents Group providing a response to the Committee request for further information on flooding.

Agreed: To forward the correspondence to the Department for Infrastructure for a direct response to the issues raised.

Agreed: To forward the correspondence to Northern Ireland Water for a direct response to the issues raised.

Agreed: To write to the Department for Infrastructure to seek an update on the items of correspondence that are outstanding.

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing the Belfast City Centre Traffic Update for September 2026;
Correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure providing a quarterly update on the Translink Nightmover Service;
- Copy of a response from the Minister for Infrastructure to the Committee for Finance regarding progress on the Lagan Pedestrian Cycle Bridge;
- Correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding the costs associated with the application of provisions of Bills;
- Correspondence from a member of the public providing further information in relation to a complaint against Warrenpoint Harbour;
- Correspondence from EcoBalance providing a proposal for reducing septic-tank pollution, public expenditure, and carbon Emissions; and
- Invitation from Hopp Belfast to a stakeholder event on 22 September 2026.

The meeting moved into closed session at 10:11 am.

Mr Justin McNulty joined the meeting at 10:13 am.

Mr Paul Boggs left the meeting at 10:24 am

The meeting moved back into public session at 10:24 am.

7. SR 2026-129 The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered SR 2026-129 The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: To defer its decision until receipt of a response from the Department in relation to issues raised.

Agreed: To write to the Department for Infrastructure to request that the Committee is copied to its response to the issues raised by a member of the public and to seek from the Department what scope there may be to introduce a derogation to ‘R plate’ drivers during the transitory period of the implementation of Graduated Driver Licensing and assessment of the number drivers impacted.

8. SR 2026-143 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered SR 2026-143 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: To defer its decision until receipt of a response from the Department in relation to issues raised.

9. SR 2026-125 (C.5) The Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered SR 2026-125 (C.5) The Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: To defer its decision until receipt of a response from the Department in relation to issues raised.

10. SR 2026-126 The Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered SR 2026-126 The Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026.

Agreed: To defer its decision until receipt of a response from the Department in relation to issues raised.

11. SR 2026-127 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

The Committee considered SR 2026-127 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.