Committee for Infrastructure
Minutes of Proceedings - 20 October 2026
Committee for Infrastructure - Minutes of Proceedings - 20 October 2026.pdf (157.52 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast
Present:
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Boggs MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Harry Harvey MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
Apologies:
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan 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 2:06 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
Mr Peter McReynolds declared an interest as the Bill Sponsor of the Tree Protection Bill.
3. Tree Protection Bill – Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence
The following departmental officials joined the meeting 2:08 pm.
- Rosemary Daly: Chief Planner and Director, DfI Planning Group;
- Scott Symington: Deputy Director, DfI Planning Group; and
- Matt McCrisken: Principal Planning Officer, Planning Legislation
The Committee agreed that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.
A question and answer session followed.
Mr Andrew McMurray joined the meeting at 2:36 pm.
The departmental officials left the meeting at 2:54 pm.
The meeting was suspended at 2:55 pm.
The meeting resumed at 2:59 pm with the following Members present:
Present:
Mr John Stewart MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Boggs MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Harry Harvey MLA
Mr Andrew McMurray MLA
Mr Peter McReynolds MLA
4. Tree Protection Bill – Environmental Panel – Oral Evidence
The following representatives joined the meeting 2:59 pm.
- Andrew Weatherall, Principal Policy Officer, Woodlands and Forestry, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds;
- Gregor Fulton, Trees & Woodland Advisor, National Trust;
- Paul Armstrong, Public Affairs Manager Northern Ireland, Woodland Trust; and
- Rosemary Mulholland, Head of Nature Recovery, Ulster Wildlife.
The Committee agreed that the evidence is recorded by Hansard.
A question and answer session followed.
Mr Paul Boggs left the meeting at 3:36 pm
The representatives left the meeting at 3:50 pm.
5. Any Other Business
None
6. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 10:00 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:52 pm.
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure
4 November 2026
