Nichola Mallon
North Belfast · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I have had the very moving opportunity to meet families who have tragically lost a loved one on that stretch of road. That was an important opportunity for me to hear at first hand their experience and the experiences of the local community as they try to go about their everyday business while living in close proximity to a key transport…”
“I take safety on our rural roads very seriously. My Department continues to be actively committed to improving safety on our roads and to work closely with our road safety partners to deliver a programme of road safety education, engineering and enforcement activities.”
“I thank Mr Muir and all the members of the Infrastructure Committee for very constructive working relationships. At times, those working relationships were tense, but they were always very constructive — I mean that.”
“It was important to me to take forward the motor insurance legislation to try to protect people against a hike of up to £50 in their motor insurance premiums. Members will be aware that I took the decision to freeze any hike in public transport fares.”
“That commenced a consultation process that is open until 6 May. I encourage anyone with an interest in this significant project to make their views known during the consultation period. <BR /> <BR />In advance of the major upgrade, it is important that we do what we can to improve road safety.”
“I have announced my intention to extend the concessionary fares scheme to provide free travel for people with disabilities who currently pay half fare and to new operators who have already indicated or expressed an interest in joining. I am aware that many people with a disability have limited travel options.”
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“Again, I appeal to all Members: let us stand with all victims and survivors against the amnesty, and, as we unite in our opposition, let us give a commitment based on a shared determination to finally, properly and justly deal with our past.”
“It is not perfect, and it is not the best agreement, but, after going through so many failures with the other better options, it is the only agreement, and it was reaffirmed in 'New Decade, New Approach' (NDNA). Victims and survivors are alive to its shortcomings, but it has broad support. It is a starting point, and, by listening to and working with victims' families and survivors, it can and should be improved. <BR /> <BR />Victims and survivors have been let down for far too long. We will not be able to move forward by leaving them behind. As a society, we should be ashamed that, to date, we have done just that.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the recent past, we have come to what are sometimes difficult agreements on how some very sensitive matters should be handled. We got there on policing, parades and the Good Friday Agreement, and we got there on the restoration of devolution just 18 months ago. What was the template for resolving those serious problems and unlocking the political gridlock that too often threatens to stymie progress in the North? It was working hard together with all the parties and the two Governments, sometimes with international guidance and expertise on hand too. There is nothing easy about politics in this place, but the fact that something is difficult does not mean that it is not worth doing. There is a way forward through the Stormont House Agreement.”
“Victims and survivors also deserve honesty from us and those who sat on these Benches before us. Our peace process is held up as an exemplar across the world, but, when it comes to how we have treated victims and survivors, we are not the model to follow. The failures at different times by parties here and by processes and Governments to comprehensively and sensitively deal with legacy has created the opportunity for the situation to be abused as it is now. My appeal today is for us not only to unite in our opposition to the proposed amnesty for state and paramilitary actors but to have a shared determination to act to properly deal with legacy. The move by the British Government has to be a wake-up call. We should never have needed that wake-up call, but we now need to act before it is too late.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have been here before, in 2005. Victims spoke up then and overturned that proposed amnesty. Just as the SDLP stood with them then, we continue to stand with all victims and survivors today and every day.”
“It would not be acceptable in any other modern democracy in the world. It cannot and must not be deemed acceptable here. <BR /> <BR />The loved ones of those brutally murdered during the conflict are realistic about the chances of prosecution. They know that no one can honestly promise justice to them. However, they are right in the fact that no one morally can or should be allowed to deny them justice or extinguish the hope that they are entitled to have. Martin Luther King reminded us that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. The UK Government are seeking to halt the chance of justice. In their ignorance, arrogance and complete lack of compassion, they are determined to intervene in the arc of the moral universe. We will not stand silently by and allow them to do that.”
“has done nothing more than devastate and re-traumatise survivors and the families of victims. It has not drawn a line; it has made the situation worse. Let me say this unequivocally: murder was wrong. The violence was wrong. The suffering left behind by men and women wearing uniforms or balaclavas was wrong. It was always wrong. No one here wants to return to the past. No one wants to relive the destruction of those dark days. However, for the victims and survivors of the Troubles, that is not a choice that they have. Every day they live with the horrific pain of the past, yet the British Government, in doing this, are telling families that their loved one's life did not matter and that their lives — their family's loss — are not worthy enough to be properly investigated in a process with integrity. It is disgusting.”
“<BR /> <BR />Often, when someone is speaking among friends, their guard comes down. That seems to be what happened with Brandon Lewis as he wrote for 'The Daily Telegraph' last week. Among his hypocritical wordplay, he explained that, because the state kept records of what happened in the conflict, the "grim threat" of a possible prosecution hangs over veterans. The grim prospect of prosecution? I say this to Brandon Lewis: truth is not a grim prospect. Accountability is not a grim prospect. Transparency is not a grim prospect. Decency is not a grim prospect, but, regrettably, it is in short supply in Conservative Party headquarters. <BR /> <BR />The plan from Number 10 to ban investigations and civil cases and to fold the legacy inquest process in order to:”
“The proposed ending of prosecutions, inquests and even investigations is not a detailed proposal that has emerged from a painstaking inclusive process involving victims and survivors and the political representatives from the Assembly. It is not a new agreement signed off by the two Governments and guided by international expertise. Instead, it is a unilateral move by the British Government to deliver a Tory Party answer to a problem created by that party and its Back-Bench MPs. Those Back-Benchers have created a bogus myth that an endless parade of veterans are being dragged through the courts here to answer for their past. The fact is that that is not true. Rather than debunk the myth and deal in facts, Boris Johnson and Brandon Lewis have decided to cruelly abandon victims and survivors as they play to their gallery.”
“I do not know what it is to stare at that empty chair day after day, year after year, filled with questions and with little chance of getting answers. However, I know that the chance of an answer and of seeing justice served means everything to the families. Neither Boris Johnson nor Brandon Lewis has the right to scrub that small chance on a Tory-pleasing whim. <BR /> <BR />Last week, out of the blue and without a single thought of the trauma being heaped on the families of the victims of the conflict here, the British Government told them that they no longer mattered and that they should just be quiet, move on and forget about their search for answers and justice for their husbands, wives, children, parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to be clear: I did not lose any family members directly in the conflict, and I am so thankful for that.”
“However, I appeal to Members to keep in their minds the outpouring of hurt expressed by victims and survivors across our society and the fact that they will look to us today not to engage in mutual recriminations — that does not serve their needs or help them in any way — but to be united in standing with them and in opposition to the amnesty. <BR /> <BR />In the SDLP, our support for the victims of the conflict and their families has never wavered, from Derry to Ballymurphy through Omagh, Greysteel, Loughinisland and the Shankill Road, from the early stages of the Troubles to the present day. Far too many of our towns and villages have come to be associated with horrendous acts of atrocity, the lasting impact of which is hard to imagine unless directly affected, as so many families have been.”
“<BR /> <BR />Here we are again, recalled as an Assembly, to discuss yet another serious political issue, but I know the belief that it is right and important that we do so is shared across the House and our society. Most importantly, it is the least that we can do for the victims and survivors of our terrible conflict, who are devastated by the proposed amnesty. Legacy is a difficult and sensitive issue. The debate will be difficult, given the pain, hurt and loss that have been endured by people in the House and those whom we represent.”
“Last week, people and parties across Northern Ireland were stunned at the proposals from the British Government, stunned that the way the Government propose to deal with the pain of the past is to sweep it under the carpet, to let the perpetrators, state and paramilitary, walk free and instead condemn the victims and their families to a lifetime of pain and suffering through the denial of hope, truth and justice. Have they not waited long enough? Have they not suffered enough? It is the victims who have lost: not only the greatest loss of all in losing their loved ones but now the loss of the possibility and hope of truth and access to justice.”
“I thank the Member, because he continually raises that issue and gives it the recognition that it deserves. He will know that the Barton report identified an investment requirement of about £140 million per annum just to maintain the road network as is, so the financial situation is hugely challenging. However, I will continue to do what I can to ensure that we get our roads fixed. I am mindful of the state of roads in our rural communities, which is why I am advancing the rural roads fund.”
“I bid for £120 million for road maintenance in this financial year. That is an increase on last year. The Member may know that I have increased the rural roads fund by 50% so that we now have £15 million set aside specifically for rural roads. The Member may also know that the asphalt contracts were subject to legal challenge. My officials are working through interim solutions to address that, because I want to make sure that we get work on the ground as quickly as possible. I reassure him that none of that will impact on the rural roads fund.”
“Road maintenance is a hugely important issue. I have said in the House that we need to get the basics right for people to have confidence in the Executive and in me as the Minister, but we also need to be doing the transformative pieces of work as well.”
“I recognise that this is a hugely complex and controversial application. That was why I was very clear on my commitment to go to a public inquiry. The Member will know that that is an independent process; therefore, the date for that hearing is outwith my gift as Minister for Infrastructure. However, I can assure him that we are doing everything that we can to ensure that all the information is available as quickly as possible and that it is provided to the public inquiry. I recognise the importance of giving people the opportunity to have their voices and their views heard on this really important and difficult application.”
“The Member will be aware that I announced my clear commitment to a public inquiry. The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) has indicated that it wishes to have all the relevant information before it ahead of giving us a date for the hearing. The Member will be aware that information about power lines has still to be gathered. When all that is received, we will, at the earliest opportunity, submit it to the PAC. As the Member will know, it is up to the PAC to set a date for the public inquiry. It is important to give everyone, particularly the local community, the opportunity to have their say and for their views to be listened to.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Some people say that I speak very passionately about rail connectivity, but I do so because it has been neglected. It is a huge untapped resource on our island and in Northern Ireland in particular. I do not say that because I want it to grow to the detriment of our bus network. I believe in growing our public transport network. For me, it is very much about looking at both networks to see how we can maximise that resource. The Member will know that there has been significant investment in our bus provision and in hydrogen buses, for example. I am very much committed to greening the public transport network, including the bus network, and I will remain committed to doing so.”
“<BR /> <BR />If the Member wants to write to me about the particular issues in Ballymoney and make specific asks, I am happy to look at whether there is something that we can do in advance of the regional strategic transport network transport plan. I am certainly happy to hear him out and have the case made to me at least.”
“I thank the Member for his question. If I am being honest, we could do a lot more about having a more integrated transport system if we were to look at how all the components of a transport system come together. It is about maximising active travel opportunities and encouraging people on to public transport. It is also about the role of taxis — we had a debate earlier about the importance of our taxi industry — our private bus operators and community transport, and how all of them come together. The Member may know that my officials are working on the regional strategic transport network transport plan, which will look at our transport system — bus, road and rail — up until 2030. That will go out for consultation later this year, and I encourage the Member to respond to the consultation.”
“None of us — not the Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Education, the Minister for Communities or me — will be able to achieve those outcomes if we do not invest in our water and waste water infrastructure.”
“Since taking up this post, one of the things that I have realised is that we take for granted our access to safe, clean drinking water and to a clean and efficient waste water system. In fact, if we had any severe difficulties in that area, our society would grind to a halt. It is a pubic health issue, an economic issue, a societal issue and an environmental issue. It is perhaps one of the most important areas requiring sustained investment that we have right across our economy. I make the point again that we may have our difficulties in the Executive, but we all believe in ensuring that, through our Programme for Government, we get the right outcomes for our citizens.”
“Although I am pleased that, this year, I have been able to allocate enough funding to meet the Utility Regulator's requirement, there is a significant challenge every subsequent year. For as long as I am Minister for Infrastructure, however, I will continue to make the case around the Executive table. If we do not invest in our water and waste water infrastructure, we simply will not create the jobs that we need, we will not grow the economy in the way in which we want to, we will not be able to build the many homes that we need, and we will certainly not be able to tackle the climate emergency.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As we have discussed, there has been historical underinvestment in our water and waste water infrastructure. I do not need to rehearse the social, economic or environmental reasons for why we need to correct that failure. <BR /> <BR />The Utility Regulator has identified £2 billion as the funding requirement for the next price control period, which is the next six years. As I said in response to a previous question, it is estimated that it will take us 12 years to correct all the challenges to our water and waste water infrastructure. We are severely hampered by the fact that we are still operating from single-year Budgets.”
“<BR /> <BR />I remain committed to minimising disruption and ensuring that our plans for the restoration of services are in hand. However, all driving test services across these islands are experiencing high demand and longer than usual waiting times. We ask customers for their continued patience while we work as hard as we can to get through the backlog.”
“Given the public interest in the statistics that the Member has requested, the Department now publishes provisional testing statistics on a monthly reporting cycle. They are all available on the Department's website. The latest monthly report, for May 2021, was published on 15 June. The monthly report for June is scheduled to be released on 20 July. <BR /> <BR />I assure the Member that the Driver and Vehicle Agency has worked hard, and continues to work hard, to increase its capacity to meet the high demand from all customers for driving tests. I am pleased to say that, in May, the DVA, through increasing its capacity, conducted 5,476 driving tests, which is 35% higher than the five-year average for that month.”
“<BR /> <BR />The lighter nights provide the opportunity to increase the number of driving tests that DVA can conduct each day. Each category B driving examiner is conducting between six and nine driving tests per day. Extended opening hours will require the use of overtime to provide the additional capacity, which is being offered to all trained driving examiners on a voluntary basis and in line with Northern Ireland Civil Service terms and conditions.”
“The DVA has identified four additional departmental buildings — in Belfast, Coleraine, Cookstown and Omagh — that can be used as temporary test centres if needed and if there is sufficient driving examiner capacity. <BR /> <BR />The new temporary test centres at Cookstown and Omagh have opened for appointments. This has been communicated to all approved instructors and customers through the normal channels, including nidirect and social media. The DVA is offering driving tests on Sundays for heavy goods vehicles and buses at Belfast, Craigavon and Derry when it is suitable to do so without compromising the integrity of the test. The DVA is offering category B and certificate of professional competence (CPC) module 4 tests in some locations on Sundays, again, when it is suitable to do so without compromising the integrity of the test.”
“First, I pass on my condolences to Mr Dunne on the death of his father. The Member is very welcome to the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has 38 full-time driving examiners and 39 dual role examiners. The dual role examiners conduct both vehicle and driving tests, and they can be utilised across the network of test centres to meet driver testing demand. A further 10 new dual role examiners have been identified for driving examiner training. The first of those examiners is conducting category B private car driving tests. A further tranche, if training is successfully completed, will commence driver testing by mid-July. <BR /> <BR />In addition, the DVA is progressing an external recruitment competition for 10 full-time driving examiners, whom we expect to start testing by mid-September.”
“We remain committed to doing what we can in the Department, and, given the importance of planning to growing our economy, which is particularly acute as we emerge from this pandemic, we are also working with councils.”
“Work is ongoing with statutory consultees through a cross-government planning forum to improve processes around statutory consultation and statutory consultation response times. In addition, my Department, as part of a collaborative project with 10 councils, will deliver a new planning IT system next year that will improve the submission and processing of planning applications. <BR /> <BR />Community engagement is an important part of our planning process, and is an area that should be improved. That is why I established the planning engagement partnership to look at how to enhance the quality and depth of community engagement in the planning process at regional and local levels. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the need for regional and local improvements in our planning system.”
“As the Member will know, we are carrying out a review of the implementation of the Planning Act 2011. That will provide an opportunity to consider any improvements that may be required to the way in which the Act has been commenced and implemented in subordinate legislation.”
“There are two elements. There is a need to monitor our local councils' planning performance review, and there are a number of ways in which my Department is doing that. The second element is what my Department is doing to improve its performance when it comes to the planning system. My Department is working closely with key stakeholders in a number of ways to improve the processes and increase the efficiency of the planning system to ensure that planning applications are processed in a timely manner.”
“It is also one of the reasons why I am keen to pursue the independent infrastructure commission, as it would have an important role to play in ensuring that we bring experts in, that we have the important element of public consultation, and that we have a 30-year vision for our infrastructure and planning that has at its heart the need to be ambitious in tackling the climate crisis.”
“The Member raises a very important point. As I said in response to Ms Sugden, we need flexibility so that councils can tailor their local development plans to meet the needs of the local population. We also need consistency and adherence to wider strategic policy. The strategic planning policy is on sustainable development, so that has to be a key component. <BR /> <BR />The Member will know that I recently announced that I am taking forward a review for renewable and low-carbon energy development within the wider context of the climate emergency. That is part of our efforts to support a green recovery from the pandemic.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Casement is a hugely important application. As with all applications, my officials are working to progress it properly and at pace. My planning officials went to Belfast City Council for a consultation, as required under the legislation. My understanding is that we have just received a formal response from Belfast City Council. My officials will review it and will continue to work hard to ensure that we can get this application process through while, obviously, correctly following all the statutory procedures and requirements. <BR /> <BR />As I have stated many times in the House, rugby has its home, soccer has its home, and it is only right that Gaelic games have their home, and in Ulster.”
“<BR /> <BR />However, it is also important for the integrity of the planning system that the wider regional policy objectives set by my Department are maintained across Northern Ireland. The Department has a number of powers and functions that enable it to monitor the operation of planning matters by councils to oversee and secure the implementation of regional policy and good practices. The Department's interest in exercising those powers is not to interfere with a council's right and responsibility to take its own decisions but to consider the exercise of its strategic functions and to safeguard against systemic risks to the achievement of regional planning objectives.”
“A primary function of the Department with respect to planning is to formulate and coordinate policy for securing the orderly and consistent development of land and the planning of that development. The transfer of powers to councils and the introduction of the two-tier planning system was intended to enable councils to interpret and apply strategic policy, as set out in the strategic planning policy statement, for their areas through their local development plan and development management responsibilities. That has empowered local government to meet the needs and aspirations of local communities, taking account of the particular context and circumstances that they face. There will, therefore, be some different local planning policies and decisions to reflect the differing circumstances of each of our councils.”
“<BR /> <BR />The best approach is to advance those schemes where they are easily implemented, because I am a believer that, when you demonstrate success, you can build momentum. We will be very much led by that, but, of course, we will continue to work with elected representatives and councils so that we can make as much progress as possible. Related to that is pavement parking, which is an issue that I am keen to explore, so I am working with officials on that. We need to take a more comprehensive and holistic approach to these matters rather than just looking at cycle lanes on their own. It is about how people can move about much more freely and how we can maximise the opportunities to engage in safe active travel as much as possible.”
“As I said, an important part of this work is to bring communities with us, so we carry out community consultation. For example, in the Member's constituency of South Belfast, there is a pop-up cycle lane on the Dublin Road. The Member will know that there are two current petitions: one to have it removed and another to keep it. That is an example of the difficulties and challenges that you can face when you try to bring about change. That said, in respect of that cycle lane, we are engaging in a survey that we hope will be completed by September. The survey will get the views of people and, hopefully, build on that. There will be challenges in South Belfast, which is why we are trying to take a pragmatic and flexible approach.”
“That is resource-intensive and inevitably means that that will form a greater proportion of the work in the earlier years of delivery. Consequently, capital expenditure will be low in year 1, but it will build year-on-year over 10 years to deliver the £100 million that I have identified as being required for implementation.”
“To deliver my ambition of £13·5 million specifically to active travel, as I said, I have resourced additional staff in all four roads divisions. Those staff, along with existing staff, are working on bringing forward schemes for delivery this year and next year. Officials are also working on a delivery plan for the Belfast cycling network, which I plan to publish in the autumn. The delivery plan will identify key schemes throughout the city, with a particular focus on areas where there is currently little separated or traffic-free infrastructure. It will also provide a focus on linking pieces of isolated infrastructure into a more coherent routes network. A key element of securing delivery is communication with stakeholders and consultation on proposed designs.”
“I remain committed to doing that, and, as I said, I have also increased the staffing resource in each of the divisions across Northern Ireland so that, at the heart of each of our roads divisions, we have a very clear focus on active travel and the design and expansion of our networks.”
“As the Member points out, it is important that we enhance our walking and cycling infrastructure, particularly in the areas across Northern Ireland where there is a dearth. In reality, we are starting from a very low baseline. Considerable time and effort has to go into the design of the schemes and doing community consultation. The other restriction that we have is that we are still operating from single-year budgets, so, while I have identified a £100 million investment for the Belfast bicycle plan over the next 10 years, of course I can commit only a single year of funding to that. I have given a commitment, and, as I said, I have put the greatest amount of investment into active travel compared with any other Minister.”
“I have asked officials to focus on what can be delivered in all parts of the city in the short term and to work with stakeholders to make better walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure a reality in west Belfast and throughout the city. <BR /> <BR />I met the West Belfast Partnership Board recently, to discuss its vision and ambitions for the development of safe, attractive, comprehensive commuter cycle routes in west Belfast. I very much welcome its positive response to the Belfast cycling network and the proposals for West Belfast. My walking and cycling champion continues to work with stakeholders from the partnership to increase active travel in the west of the city.”
“To demonstrate my commitment to enhancing cycling connectivity in Belfast, I announced on 4 June 2021 the publication of 'Making Belfast an Active City – Belfast Cycling Network 2021'. The network publication provides a blueprint for the development and delivery of coherent, connected and safe infrastructure for everyday cycling in the city over the next 10 years. <BR /> <BR />As part of a £3 million investment in walking and cycling in Belfast, some £750,000 is earmarked for Belfast cycling network schemes in 2021-22 as a starting point. Work will also be undertaken on developing schemes for delivery in subsequent years. I want to move from plans to actual delivery on the ground.”
“Last year, I established my blue-green infrastructure fund to focus efforts on a green recovery. Out of that fund, I invested £6 million specifically in active travel schemes, including spend by my Department and grant funding for greenways delivered by councils. That is the highest level of funding for active travel projects in a single year. For 2021-22, I have more than doubled the commitment to active travel to £13·5 million. <BR /> <BR />I am very conscious of the need to develop better walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure right across the city and particularly in areas, such as north and west Belfast, where there is a notable lack of facilities.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He has identified an issue. As I have said in response to previous questions, we are struggling to secure the requisite funding for Northern Ireland Water to fulfil its statutory obligations in respect of water and waste water infrastructure. A number of sites across Northern Ireland remain unadopted. Their water and waste water infrastructure is not under the ownership or within the responsibility of Northern Ireland Water. That having been said, Northern Ireland Water has engaged with residents across a number of those sites, and it remains willing, able and ready to engage with developers and residents to find some forms of resolution to that very difficult issue.”