Liz Kimmins
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I do not know how it will have affected North Antrim specifically unless the Member is referring to something in particular. We all have a responsibility in climate change and what we do to try to mitigate its impacts.”
“As the Member rightly said, removal of the zero-detriment policy is for the AERA Minister, and I have engaged with the Minister on that, as well as on the removal of the statement of regulatory principles and intent. I recognise that removing that would have detrimental impact on future development.”
“In response, we recently developed and introduced new appraisal guidance, which represents a significant and deliberate shift in approach. Under the previous arrangements, schemes were largely determined by a monetised cost-benefit ratio threshold where, typically, projects that fell below a ratio of one did not progress.”
“A number of significant issues have led to that scenario. I assume that the Member is referring to waste water capacity. I have said that NI Water has suggested that it needs between £3·5 billion to £3·6 billion for the next price control period.”
“Recruitment is a key challenge faced by all Departments. In questions to the Minister of Health, my colleague from Newry and Armagh referred to the recruitment issue that recently impacted on Daisy Hill. The challenge is not unique to DFI. I want to put a focus on ensuring that we build our internal capacity and improve staffing levels.”
“The Executive and the Assembly agree that the Executive's Budget is not adequate, which is why we are in that negotiation. When it comes to the capital budget, we have to factor in a timeline for the legal challenge that we are going through. It is unlikely that we will get a decision from the court on this side of the summer recess.”
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Every one of 2,530 lines we hold for Liz Kimmins, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 14 of 51.
“That will provide an opportunity to comment specifically on any future proposals for Ballykelly and Kilrea. <BR /> <BR />Recently, I announced progress that has been made on the six active travel signature schemes, including the Coleraine to Portstewart and Bellarena to Bishop's Gate schemes in the East Derry constituency. My officials are in regular contact with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council to support delivery of their greenway priorities. The active travel improvements on the A2 Clooney Road between Ballykelly and Greysteel are part of my commitment to enhance and expand our active travel network across the North. It was first listed by council back in 2021. Local engagement took place in 2021 and 2022 under the then Minister, Nichola Mallon.”
“That coordinated approach ensures better integration between transport and land use planning, ensuring that new development is well connected, encourages investment and promotes sustainable and coordinated growth across the area. The plan will address key local transport issues, many of which have been highlighted in the debate, including local bus services, the road network and parking provision. In parallel, the regional strategic transport plan is being developed. That will set out proposals for the strategic road network for the next 10 years and include rail, interurban bus routes and park-and-ride sites. Both plans remain in development. Opportunities for public input will be available during the public consultation phase. All feedback on the proposals will be welcome at that time.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Members will know, in June 2025, I launched the draft transport strategy for public consultation. Officials are analysing the responses. We will finalise the transport strategy for anticipated publication later this year. It sets out the long-term vision along with my strategic goals for the region, whilst the new suite of local transport plans that are also in development provides a more detailed and focused understanding of the measures that are proposed for specific plan locations. That is relevant because the Causeway Coast and Glens local transport plan covers Ballykelly and Kilrea, and it will provide the framework for local transport policy and investment decisions up to 2035. That plan is being developed in close alignment with the council's local development plan and, as such, is at an early stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />In this case, it is positive investment. Once it is completed, the local area will really benefit from it. I completely understand the frustrations and inconvenience that it has caused. Members have articulated that extremely well in the debate. I really appreciate the tone of the debate, because I know how difficult it is and has been for the past number of months, particularly as people and communities rely so much on the road network to do business, go to work, get to and from school, get to healthcare appointments and connect with one another. The value of our infrastructure cannot be overstated. I will continue to work with my Executive colleagues to ensure that we get appropriate investment to continue with improvements such as that to enhance the quality of our road network.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Members will know, investing in new roads and improving and maintaining roads is critical to enabling us to ensure the safe movement of people and goods, allow the growth of our economy and connect our communities. I stress that, here in the North, we can have whatever quality of road that we want if we can get the right funding. Without that funding, roads will continue to deteriorate, pose a safety risk and impede economic movement. As is well rehearsed in the Chamber — I feel as though I have been here for every Adjournment debate in the past while to talk about this — the Budget that the Executive receive still falls well short of what is needed from London. We do not have the funding to do everything that we would like to do or, in fact, that we need to do. Therefore, prioritisation is required.”
“I thank Cara Hunter for initiating this important debate on roads infrastructure in East Derry, particularly in Ballykelly and Kilrea. I know that it is an important issue for all the representatives of those areas who have spoken in the debate and, indeed, for elected representatives on the council. I have received a significant volume of correspondence. I do not, for one second, underestimate the frustration and disruption that the roadworks have caused. I have listened intently to Members' contributions. I have heard loud and clear the concerns about road infrastructure in East Derry, particularly in Ballykelly and Kilrea. I want you all to be reassured, and your constituents to be reassured, that we have been taking that on board and doing the best that we can to try to address the challenges that have emerged.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“It is about anything that we can do to raise awareness and help people to think differently. Members will be aware that, as I have said previously, 95% of collisions are as a result of driver behaviour. We have a really big job when it comes to changing how we behave when we get behind the wheel. That is one way of doing that and of ensuring that we are creating more experienced, safer drivers. We are constantly looking at what other campaigns and mechanisms we can use to get that message out. Even this, in itself, is a messaging campaign for new drivers about their responsibilities. It is part of the work that they will do in the lead-up to their driver test. I am happy to speak to the partnership about what else we could be doing to get that message to hit home a little bit more.”
“As I said earlier, there is a responsibility on all of us to ensure that we encourage others to take heed of the rules that have been set and abide by them.”
“As with any piece of legislation that requires enforcement, our officials are always in contact with the PSNI. This may have been spoken about through the road safety partnership. We are all committed to working together to find ways of making our roads safer. As I have said, how the information will be fed out to the public will form part of that work with the PSNI to see how that can be enforced. The fundamental matter is that there is legislation for lots of things, be it drink-driving, speeding, the condition of your car, or your road tax. We understand that resources are stretched for the PSNI, but we also understand that we, as citizens, have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law.”
“I have announced the date of when that will come into play. As I said, the Committee will then be part of the scrutiny of the SRs as they go through.”
“As the detail on the GDL states, it is for new drivers with a provisional licence, who will be subject to a six-month period before they can undertake their driving test. If that is the case for someone who comes from another country and takes up a provisional driving licence while they are here, the measures will apply to them.”
“Obviously, as I had done an interview with the BBC, I knew that it was going to be on the news this morning.”
“I have had meetings with British Ministers on that because, obviously, as a reserved matter, motor insurance is the responsibility of Westminster. We have met the Association of British Insurers (ABI) as well to outline the real challenges that we have with motor insurance and house insurance in the North. Evidence suggests that the GDL will help to reduce collisions and the risk of collisions, so there is the potential to see a reduction in insurance premiums for new young drivers, which have grown significantly, even since I first learned to drive. I hope that we will see that progress. When I met the ABI, it was particularly interested in the GDL, as were my counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales at more recent inter-ministerial meetings that I have had with them.”
“I would have loved to have seen this measure in place long before now. However, I am really pleased that we are bringing it in now and that we will see change in the not-too-distant future.”
“It is regrettable that it has taken that long. However, I do not want to underestimate the time that it took to do the work that was involved in making the changes. The Assembly has been up for a significant part of that time, but, as I mentioned, COVID and other things unfortunately had to take priority during that period. <BR /> <BR />Yes, absolutely: we would like to see all these things moving quicker, particularly given all the work that had been done prior to 2016, when the legislation was passed by the House. Where we have been able to move things quicker, we have absolutely done so. In the public sector, it is challenging for lots of things to move quicker because we have so many hoops to jump through and we have to ensure that we dot all our i's and cross all our t's.”
“Yes, absolutely. As I said, the introduction date for the GDL is 1 October this year, with the new test being introduced six months later on 1 April 2027, which will accommodate the mandatory minimum learning period of six months for new provisional licence holders. In advance of the introduction of the GDL, the Department will launch a public information campaign and officials will liaise with approved instructors, the PSNI and a range of stakeholders.”
“The bottom line is that graduated driver licensing reduces fatal collisions. That, for me, is the ultimate evidence base for doing anything, because it is our key road safety objective. We do not want any more families to get a knock on the door to hear that their child, sister, brother, mother or father — whoever it may be — has been killed in a road traffic collision, particularly where it could have been avoided. It has therefore been well worth the time that it has taken to get to this stage. The change will ensure that we have much safer and much better drivers in the long term, and I hope that its legacy will be that we are all much safer on our roads.”
“The Member was in post when the Bill started its passage through the Assembly, and I think that my colleague Chris Hazzard was in post when it got Royal Assent, so that tells Members how long ago the legislation came to pass. As I said, we are looking at a range of options to help improve road safety. We have done work on mobile phone use while driving. The speed limit review consultation is under way. I can speak to officials to see where the drink-driving limit work is at, as I am not sure off the top of my head. As I said, however, I am willing to look at all options that are available to me.”
“<BR /> <BR />The roads maintenance strategy looks at how, in the longer term, we can make our road network more resilient so that we are not having to deal with this situation year in, year out. I am committed to finding ways in which to improve the network to strengthen our roads so that we are not dealing with potholes everywhere all the time and so that we can fix longer stretches of road. That work is ongoing. The weather that we have seen over the past 12 to 24 hours will have a further impact, and our teams will be out on the ground as normal dealing with the aftermath in the coming days and weeks.”
“I do not think that anyone is saying that graduated driver licensing will solve all the problems in DFI. Members are very aware of the significant pressure that the Department is under. Just look at what the Department is dealing with today. We are continually looking at how we can secure more investment to deal with the issues on our roads. We have seen a significant deterioration in their condition, particularly over the past few weeks, following the very cold weather in December and this month, which has naturally caused the roads to deteriorate. That is not something that has started to happen in 2026. It happens every single year. Significant work is under way to deal with the issues as best we can, and I will continually try to get more money to do that. The scale, however, is huge, and our staff are working extremely hard.”
“We will be increasing the speed limit for R-drivers on motorways. That has been considered for some time, given the related safety aspects. It allows them to build up their experience at a more appropriate speed on motorways. It is about giving people the opportunity, post testing and in a natural environment, to gain better skills in a lower-risk situation so that drivers can gain experience and be more aware of the risks that can occur. The key part for me is that, in the long term, we will have safer drivers on our roads throughout their driving career, for want of a better word.”
“It is not about taking them off the roads at certain times but about restricting who they can take with them.”
“That is not one of the restrictions. The restriction is around how many passengers they can carry. We have seen that a high number of collisions occur at night-time when there may be a group of young people in a car and the driver can be easily distracted. The evidence suggests that that is one way of improving safety. For six months post test, new drivers aged 17 to 23 can take only one passenger aged between 14 and 20. They can have other passengers who are over 21 and who have held a full driving licence for at least three years or who are immediate family members. So, there are some exceptions. I am glad to have had the opportunity to clarify that, because we recognise that many young drivers rely on a private car, particularly if they work in hospitality, the health service or whatever it may be.”
“That is the ultimate way that we can help people to understand the importance of the measures and why new and young drivers should abide by them.”
“Yes, absolutely. The fundamental objective of graduated driver licensing is to protect lives, and we need to bring people with us. Therefore, we have to help people, particularly young people, understand what the measures are and why they are in place. You cannot replace a life. Ensuring that young and new drivers are experienced enough on the roads is crucial, and this will help to do that. As parents and as citizens, we all have a role to play in sharing the information and helping people to understand the rationale for the change. There is nothing that can argue with the fact that no one wants to get the knock on the door to say that their child or someone close to them has been killed in a road traffic collision.”
“The issue of HGVs is separate from what we are looking at here. This is about improving safety for new, younger drivers, given the stats around them. <BR /> <BR />As the Member is aware, my Department is looking at options to improve road safety across the board. We look at that all the time. We are looking at the importance of active travel delivery in order to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists can commute and use those facilities safely. We are looking at a range of things, including safety around HGVs on our roads. That forms the bigger picture and is a separate area of work. However, this will also make a significant improvement.”
“I am always willing to answer questions from Members and the public on any of the issues that have been outlined.”
“The Member will not be surprised to hear that I do not agree with those statements, which are highly political. I have outlined exactly how the decision came to pass. The decision was taken by the Assembly prior to my time in the post. It has been legislated for, and the timeline has been explicitly outlined for Members. The fact that the Committee has already asked me questions on the matter and that the Member was on the Committee when I outlined my plans for GDL tells me that his statements are purely political. The change is positive and should be seen as such. <BR /> <BR />In relation to my accountability to the Assembly, I am regularly in front of the Assembly and the Committee. I am due to go back to the Committee in the coming weeks, and I will be back in the Chamber for Question Time.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He cited some of the statistics on fatalities that show how young people are impacted. We were particularly cognisant of the impact on rural communities, where people are more reliant on access to a private car. <BR /> <BR />I feel that the impact on rural communities will be positive, as evidenced by existing research that shows that GDL schemes reduce collisions involving young people. In 2024, 71% of the people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving a driver aged 17 to 23 were killed or injured on rural roads. Rural communities are severely affected by tragic loss and other consequences associated with serious road traffic collisions. We recognise the unique challenges that many rural drivers face. The system has been designed to minimise inconvenience while prioritising safety.”
“I just explained to Mr Stewart the reasons for some of the delays. As has been stated, this is a huge reform of driver licensing and testing, so significant work was required to bring it to this point. The reform was initiated by my predecessor, John O'Dowd, on the back of the primary legislation, and I have now set the launch date, but there are stages to go through with the Committee on the subordinate legislation. We are trying to get it in place as quickly as possible. The evidence is there: we know that this is a positive step forward that will save lives. The positive feedback that we have received from parents and organisations, as well as from Road Safe NI, is that it is a positive step. It shows what we can do as an Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I mentioned, in my appearance at the Committee in June 2025, I confirmed my commitment to implementing GDL as soon as was practicable. It is important to say that the passage of time is largely beyond our control. It has taken some time to develop it, as we have had two Assembly collapses in that period, as well as COVID and other issues that took priority. The legislation has been in place for some time, and I am just moving on to the next stage of implementation.”
“The introduction of GDL has been a long journey and has been subject to two public consultations during that time. As I have stated previously, it was first introduced in 2016 when it was legislated for in the Assembly. The development of the legislative framework for GDL was the subject of extensive consultation prior to that, in 2011. The outcome of that consultation informed the drafting of the Assembly Bill. The passage of the Bill entailed a series of Assembly debates, as well as close engagement with the departmental scrutiny Committee to explain the rationale and facilitate the Committee's clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Bill. The necessary subordinate legislation was also consulted on in 2017.”
“Yes, absolutely. Global evidence has been looked at. Research carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory shows that GDL systems reduce collisions and fatalities involving young people by around 19% to 21%. Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland and parts of the US have seen significant improvements in road safety after adopting GDL. Indeed, we have some similarities to the GDL programme that is in place in the South of Ireland. It is a really positive step forward and shows how serious we are about improving road safety, particularly for our younger drivers, who are involved in quite a high number of fatal road collisions.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the point about the age group and how young people have been disproportionately represented in the number of fatalities as a result of road traffic collisions, I was contacted this morning by a parent whose young boy will be learning to drive soon, and he has lost three of his friends in road traffic collisions. Therefore, for me, it is extremely important, and we should not lose sight of how important the step forward is.”
“Yes, absolutely. That is the important point coming out of the step in the progress around graduated driver licensing. The fundamental goal of learning to drive and the licensing process should be to create drivers and motorcyclists who are safe and not just technically competent by the time they are permitted to drive or ride unsupervised. The introduction of GDL plans to achieve that through a structured approach to learning to drive, including the completion of a programme of training and a logbook. It will better prepare drivers for the driving test and the initial post-driving test period by helping learners to understand how human factors such as their attitude, personality, behaviour and feelings affect their driving style.”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, the Infrastructure Committee has an important role in the scrutiny of the draft subordinate legislation that is required to underpin the primary provisions, and I look forward to engagement on that draft legislation, which, I expect, will be sent to the Infrastructure Committee for scrutiny in February 2026. I understand that the scrutiny of the subordinate legislation was also included in the Department's draft forward work plan, which was shared with the Committee.”
“Absolutely not. I appeared before the Infrastructure Committee on 25 June last year. I appreciate that that was before the Member's time as Chair. At that time, I set out my priorities and legislative programme and informed the Committee that I was introducing graduated driving licences and that that would require statutory rules (SRs). It is a matter of record that I wish to see GDL introduced as soon as possible and that my Department has been progressing the operational planning and subordinate legislation changes that are required before GDL can be implemented. I have also responded to a number of questions for written answer about GDL from MLAs, including Committee members, and, in each of those answers, I made it clear that I would shortly announce the implementation date of GDL, which I did today.”
“The introduction of graduated driver licensing was debated and agreed by the Assembly as part of the passage of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill in 2016. The Bill received Royal Assent in May 2016 and became the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (NI) 2016. There has been no departure in policy direction since the Act received Royal Assent. Today, I announced the pathway to the introduction of GDL, which is the settled will of the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have had a very broad discussion on the issue, but it has also been a very narrow discussion. I welcome the comments from Alliance Members, who rightly pointed out that the issue applies to all political parties, as well as to hate messaging and anti-immigration messaging, which are toxic for our communities. My officials are working closely with the PSNI to ensure that messaging, advertising, billboards and posters about such matters are removed promptly from any departmental equipment, because such material should not be tolerated by any of us. <BR /> <BR />I hope that we can get back to dealing with real issues and to delivering for people, as we have been elected to do.”
“Some of the posts appear to be situated on the Department's land, while others are on privately owned land. Part of the billboard is located on land that is not part of the public road network, so the Department does not have statutory powers under the Roads Order 1993 to remove the billboard. The billboard is considered to pose a low risk to road safety for the following reasons: it is set back from the carriageway, at the top of an embankment, meaning that there is little, if any, risk of impact from an errant vehicle or of the billboard causing an impediment to vehicles and/or pedestrians; it does not cause any obstruction to traffic or to sight lines; and it is located in an area where the speed limit is 30 mph, so vehicle speeds are low, meaning that the risk of serious injury is greatly reduced.”
“I will not be drawn into the pantomime that I have witnessed today.”
“Members may think the contrary, but there is no Sinn Féin billboard.”
“I will return to the issue of the billboard, which is not a Sinn Féin billboard.”
“Are Members now seriously asking me to redirect my limited staffing resources from filling potholes to looking at all the posters that are erected throughout the North? Are they asking that I look not just at Sinn Féin posters? I say that because it is clear that the debate is about just Sinn Féin. Are Members seriously asking me to redirect staff to doing that, thus taking them away from dealing with the issues that are supposedly of importance to all Members?”
“Yesterday, I stood in the Chamber and was subjected to scrutiny about where I direct my resources in relation to issues that are of significance to our constituents: roads maintenance, waste water infrastructure, public transport and active travel.”
“Due to staff resourcing pressures across the transport and road asset management group, particularly in operational areas, priority is always given to managing public safety risks on the road network. As such, my officials will prioritise signs or attachments that are likely to present a safety issue to road users. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware of the issues with staffing levels across our operational workforce and the impact that they are having on maintenance more broadly. That is an extremely important point in the discussion. Earlier, my colleague from South Down made a point about comments that Phillip Brett made just last week.”
“The bottom line is that the motion was tabled on the basis of what Members believed. Clearly, they had not done their homework and have not been in the area. I live in the area, I represent it and I know that there is no Sinn Féin billboard there. It has been interesting to listen to the commentary, because it is based on something that is in the past. <BR /> <BR />As the Member who spoke before me said, article 87 of the Roads Order 1993 gives the Department the discretionary power to seek to have an advertisement removed or to remove it, if considered necessary. As Members have acknowledged, the display of advertisements is typically subject to an advertising consent application process, and any breaches of planning regulations are generally addressed under planning legislation.”
“I am stating a fact: there is no Sinn Féin billboard at the Egyptian Arch. That is a fact.”
“There is no Sinn Féin billboard at the Egyptian Arch: that is a fact. The Member can cast aspersions about whatever he thinks it may be, but the fact is that there is no Sinn Féin billboard at the Egyptian Arch.”