Marshalled List of Amendments

Friday 29 November 2024

Item 5: Order Paper 69/22-27 – Tuesday 2 December 2024

Motion: All-island Rail Fares

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the growing disparity in the cost of rail fares between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; acknowledges the significant role of affordable public transport in promoting social mobility, reducing carbon emissions, and facilitating economic growth across the island of Ireland; recognises that Northern Ireland’s lack of ambition in relation to public transport has led to significant fare imbalances, creating inequality for cross-border commuters; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to work with the Minister of Finance and the Minister for the Economy to bring forward proposals to better align rail fares between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the context of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and to undertake an assessment of the feasibility of creating a unified fare structure for cross-border rail services that encourages greater economic integration, reduces barriers to movement, and promotes regional development across the island of Ireland.

Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Matthew O’Toole

Single Amendment

Leave out all after ‘economic growth across’ and insert:

‘all jurisdictions; welcomes the four ongoing rail feasibility studies focusing on plans for the electrification of the railway from Belfast to the border, the reopening of the Antrim to Lisburn railway line with an additional stop at Belfast International Airport, the reinstatement of the Portadown to Armagh route, and a new line between Portadown and Londonderry; recognises, however, that a lack of ambition in relation to public transport in some areas, including County Fermanagh, has led to significant imbalances, creating inequality regionally, in addition to fare disparities for cross-border commuters; calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to work with the Minister of Finance and the Minister for the Economy to bring forward proposals to better align rail fares and service planning between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the context of the investment in cross-border and regional rail infrastructure, envisaged by the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and the Union Connectivity Review; and further calls on the Minister to undertake an assessment of the feasibility of creating an aligned fare structure for cross-border rail services that encourages greater economic growth, reduces barriers to movement, and promotes regional development in all jurisdictions.’

[Mrs Deborah Erskine]
[Mr Stephen Dunne]
[Mr Keith Buchanan]