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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“It is not appropriate, therefore, to use it in those circumstances. <BR /> <BR />That is an important piece of information that I really wanted to get on the record. If there was more that I could do, I absolutely would. I would never shirk my responsibility in relation to that matter, but I can work only within the legislative framework. Others, including the NIEA, need to look at the legislative framework and the responsibility that they have under current legislation.”
“It is important to state that in relation to that issue, which is impacting fundamentally on the lives of people in Warrenpoint. <BR /> <BR />Ports are required to comply with environmental law, which is enforced by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). I met the chairperson of Warrenpoint harbour and made known my concerns as a local constituency representative close to South Down but also as Minister, and the relationship that we have with Warrenpoint harbour. I know that it is a massive issue and needs to be addressed. To make sure that I had no role in that, we sought legal advice as to whether that power could be applied in the way that Members have asked me to do, and that was raised by the community. The legal advice reinforced the position that the power can be used only in relation to the harbour's statutory functions.”
“The power of direction enables the Department to issue directions to designated harbour authorities but only in relation to the exercise of their statutory functions. <BR /> <BR />That power was introduced in 2002, and as one Member said, it has never been used. My Department's powers in respect of Warrenpoint specifically are limited to the port's statutory functions. Those concern the operation, improvement, maintenance and management of the harbour as set out in the Harbours Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 and the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 2002. The powers do not extend to managing third-party operational practices, directing tenants, regulating environmental issues or addressing issues such as odour or air quality.”
“Being in a neighbouring constituency, it is an issue that I am very aware of and concerned about. I want to put that on the record as a local MLA but also as someone who visits Warrenpoint and has worked in the town. It is a beautiful place and is somewhere that I like to take my children, so anything that impacts on the community there absolutely needs to be addressed. <BR /> <BR />However, I have to be clear about my responsibilities. I want to ensure that Members leave the House with no ambiguity about who has responsibility for the issues that have arisen, and what powers I have, specifically the article 4 directions that many Members mentioned. Even though the four trust ports will no longer be subject to article 4 directions, they will remain subject to a range of legal, statutory, regulatory and accountability checks.”
“I thank the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee, Committee members and MLAs for their comments on the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I will start by addressing some general issues and points that were raised. I thank everyone for their support for the Bill. You are right in doing so in that this is a significant opportunity to ensure that our ports can realise their potential. A number of Members mentioned the Belfast harbour master plan, and I attended its recent launch. I have worked with Belfast harbour since coming into the post, and it is an exciting plan that will transform the harbour. <BR /> <BR />I want to address the issues with Warrenpoint harbour, which were raised by my colleague Sinéad Ennis, and South Down MLAs Andy McMurray and Colin McGrath.”
“It is a carefully considered and balanced package that reflects the realities of the modern maritime sector and the strategic importance of our ports to trade, investment and regional development. <BR /> <BR />I will be happy to address any questions that Members may have.”
“Secondly, it supports ONS reclassification, ensuring that the governance framework reflects the true nature of the ports. Thirdly, it empowers our ports commercially, equipping them with the tools that they need to compete, grow and contribute to the regional economy. <BR /> <BR />The Bill will be supported in part by subordinate legislation, specifically four harbour orders covering the ports of Belfast, Coleraine, Foyle and Warrenpoint. Those orders will provide ports with further enhanced commercial powers, whilst ensuring that activities remain aligned with port-related objectives and protect the long-term financial sustainability of each port.”
“The Bill will therefore amend the Harbours Act (NI) 1970 to better align our legislation with that of our counterparts in Britain. Changes include allowing harbour authorities to delegate certain functions while safeguarding key powers; expanding the purposes for which harbour orders may be made; and broadening the scope of commercial and investment-related harbour activities, including removing the requirement for ministerial approval. Importantly, the Bill also provides ports with a general power of harbour direction for their own operations, reinforcing the principle that boards should be empowered to manage their affairs effectively and independently. <BR /> <BR />Taken as a whole, the Bill delivers on three key objectives. First, it enhances the independence of trust ports by removing outdated controls that are no longer appropriate.”
“While the ONS classification has no legal impact on the statutory powers, functions or ownership of trust ports in the North, it has significant practical implications. Currently, port borrowing requires capital budget cover from the Department, which places port investment in direct competition with departmental spending priorities. Reclassification breaks the link between port borrowing and departmental budgets, enabling greater financial autonomy for the ports, which is more appropriate to the commercial environment in which they operate. <BR /> <BR />I turn to the commercial aspects of the Bill. Our ports operate in an increasingly competitive environment. It is essential that they have the flexibility and tools required to succeed.”
“That ensures that responsibility for day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making rests firmly with the ports. <BR /> <BR />Alongside those measures, supporting secondary legislation will amend governance arrangements, including reducing the Department's role in appointing board members from a majority to a minority position, which will maintain an appropriate level of public accountability. In addition, it is my intention, as Minister, to retain ministerial councillor appointments. <BR /> <BR />Taken together, the measures strike an important balance. They reduce indicators of public-sector control, while preserving appropriate oversight, which is an essential step in seeking ONS reclassification so that trust ports are no longer treated as public corporations where such classification is no longer appropriate.”
“The Bill does not seek to replace that model but rather to update and modernise it for the future. In doing so, the Bill addresses a number of long-standing issues that relate to governance, control and their ONS accounting status. All those issues are central to their ability to operate as effective operation ports. <BR /> <BR />Specifically, the Bill removes my Department's power to compel the sale of a trust port, which is an important step in protecting the independence and long-term stability of our ports, and it signals clearly that they are not subject to undue governance intervention. In addition, the Bill repeals the Department's power to issue directions to trust ports in the exercise of their statutory functions.”
“They included retaining the trust port model, pursuing legislative change to address the current Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification and introducing enhanced commercial powers. They also included provisions for the power of harbour direction for ports, as well as updated purposes for which harbour orders may be made. I emphasise that the Bill is firmly grounded in the agreed policy proposals. It represents a measured and balanced package of reforms designed to modernise our ports and unlock the full commercial potential, whilst retaining appropriate safeguards in the public interest. <BR /> <BR />Our ports play a vital role in the regional economy and for the wider community, and the trust port model, which operates for the benefit of stakeholders, has served the North of Ireland well.”
“The proposals focused on the powers, status and governance of the trust ports, including whether trust port status remains appropriate for major commercial ports here, whether ports should be granted enhanced commercial powers, whether trust ports require powers to ensure the proper discharge of the marine safety obligations and whether the processes for preparing and approving harbour orders should be updated. <BR /> <BR />The consultation, which closed on 10 March 2025, generated 60 responses. I take the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the organisations and individuals who contributed their views and helped to inform our policy development. Following that process, I agreed policy recommendations that were also agreed by my ministerial colleagues in the Executive on 6 November 2025.”
“The Harbours Bill represents a significant and necessary reform of the legislative framework that governs our trust ports and harbour authorities. The Bill is the first step in implementing updates arising from a comprehensive review of trust ports. The review identified a number of challenges faced by my Department, trust ports and harbour authorities. The measures before Members today are designed to enable those bodies to operate more efficiently, strengthen their contribution to the regional economy and ensure that they can compete effectively with other ports. I am grateful for the opportunity to put the Bill before the House today. <BR /> <BR />In December 2024, my Department launched a 12-week consultation on a range of policy proposals aimed at modernising the existing legislative framework.”
“I beg to introduce the Harbours Bill [NIA 37/22-27], which is a Bill to amend the law relating to harbours and harbour authorities.”
“Given the times that we are living in, what we are seeing and tragic events that are becoming too frequent, these are practical solutions. I am keen to see how we can do more of that. As I said, I will give more detail in relation to that specific location.”
“Absolutely. We are looking at it in the round. There have been historical budgetary issues regarding what we want to do, what we need to do and what we can do on street lighting. It is challenging, but we have to look at where lighting must be prioritised. You gave a good example. The park-and-ride at Moira is well progressed. It is fantastic. I was there to cut the sod less than a year ago, I think. I am pleased to see the good progress that has been made. You have made a valid point. We talk in the Chamber about ending violence against women and girls. That is an issue that I have embedded in my conversations around street lighting in particular, so that we can make all our routes, particularly the active travel — walking and cycling — routes safer for women and girls and everybody.”
“As the Member will know, I was out on-site last year and saw it for myself. Work is ongoing. I can get a more detailed update on that. On the day that I was on-site, we looked at a number of different issues in and around Moira, including the connection to the railway station. I am happy to come back to the Member in writing with a more detailed response. I am not sure off the top of my head where things are sitting, but we are keen to do that.”
“<BR /> <BR />As the Member will know, the Executive are doing a wider piece of work, negotiating with Treasury to ensure that we get properly funded so that we can have good public services, which include a good road network. That is a wider piece of work. With the financial envelope that I have, I am looking at what I can do to maximise the resources available to me so that everybody can see a real, tangible difference in the not-too-distant future.”
“As I have said, I know how the public feel. I think that it is fair to say that we all feel the same. I think that we should and do expect better than what we have. As the Member will know and as his colleagues in the Executive know, because of the hugely challenging situation that we have from a financial perspective, none of these decisions is easy. For me, it is about how we learn from what has happened in the past and how we make better decisions that will have an impact so that your constituent on their scooter does feel safe, is not dodging defects in the road and can see the level of maintenance that we should all expect.”
“I am keen to see that we can eventually get to a place where we are not working off a limited service policy, which I do not think is good for anybody in the long term because that would cost us more. It is about investing to save so that we can build resilience into our road network, which will benefit everybody.”
“Those are increased investment in road maintenance for the year ahead and increased recruitment to build the workforce capacity so that we have the people to deliver so that we can respond effectively to road maintenance issues. It is also about using the technology that we now have available to us to target the resources and make the best use of the resources that we have and about looking at better inspection-repair policy. We have also looked at utility openings, and the Member will be aware that there has been a PAC report. <BR /> <BR />I am bringing together a range of work that I hope will really help to tackle the challenges that we face, not just for this year but for well over a decade.”
“As I said in response to previous questions, I recognise that there have been significant challenges with our road maintenance and the road network. We all see it, and we live with it every day. It is not something that any of us in the House is immune to, and I am very aware of that. I am also very aware of how the public feel about that and the importance of it. Having served as a councillor before becoming an MLA, I know that it is probably one of the key issues that we have always had raised with us as elected representatives. <BR /> <BR />For me, it is about looking at what the problem is and how we solve it. That is why I have set out the key areas that I am focusing on at present and into the future.”
“We all have said very clearly in this House that we want to ensure that our roads become safer, particularly for our children and young people, so I hope that I can get the Assembly's support to get through as soon as possible.”
“I concur with what the Member has said about rural road safety, and that is why there has been a specific focus on school buses in rural areas. Given the experiences that we have had and the fatalities that we have seen, there is an amount of work that is required to make those routes safer for children and young people. Following final decisions on the outcome of the consultation, I intend to bring legislation on the overtaking of stationary school buses that has been informed by the consultation responses and a wider analysis, with a view to introducing it to the Assembly in autumn of this year, subject to the necessary approvals, including Executive agreement. I really encourage all Members to get behind this.”
“We do not want to do something just for the sake of it; we need to ensure that what we set out to do is deliverable and that we base it on evidence. <BR /> <BR />Alongside the consultation, wider work is being progressed to strengthen education, enforcement and more practical safety measures. We are working across Departments in that regard. As I said, this is an absolute priority for me. I am determined that we see it through and that we get really good legislation in place that will make a real difference so that we, as parents and a community, can feel confident that our children are safer when they travel to and from school.”
“I thank the Member for his comments. I am really keen to progress that work, given some of the very sad experiences that we have seen, particularly in the past number of years. The consultation on safer journeys to school closed in May. I am pleased that there was a very strong level of public engagement: more than 600 responses were submitted as part of the consultation. That, in itself, reflects the public feeling out there about doing something about how our children travel to and from school safely. My officials are undertaking a more detailed analysis of those responses. That is happening alongside ongoing engagement with our key partners, including the PSNI, to ensure that proposals are evidence-based and deliverable, which is a key aspect of the work.”
“I want to ensure that we look at all aspects of car insurance so that we can get people on the road who are safer and that it is affordable for them to do so. As a representative of a rural community, the Member will know how important it is for people living in her constituency to have access to their own transport. They need it to get to work or, depending on their age, school and for all their other activities. Recognising that, we need to make sure that it is affordable and that we improve road safety for everybody.”
“Yes. Whilst I outlined that the primary purpose of the work on graduated driver licensing is to improve road safety, and the safety of our new and young drivers in particular, it is also acknowledged that one of the key factors in the cost of insurance premiums is the number and severity of collisions that we see across the North. Any impact on insurance premiums will ultimately depend on the insurers' assessments of evidence demonstrating lower risk and reduced claims, which will take some time to bed in, but I have already had meetings with the Association of British Insurers to make sure that it is aware of what we are setting out to do so that it can factor that in when engaging with insurance providers. That is a huge issue for our young people here.”
“I thank the Committee for Infrastructure and all the stakeholders involved for their work in ensuring that we have reached this stage. I cannot overstate how important that work has been. I was speaking at the weekend to members of my family who are parents of young people getting ready to start driving. They really welcome the intervention and recognise that it will keep their young people safe. <BR /> <BR />I am keen that we continue to move at pace and get this operational for 1 October, as I originally set out to do, so that we keep working towards making all our roads safer for all road users.”
“I am pleased to report that the four statutory rules (SRs) necessary to support the introduction of the graduated driver licence (GDL) have successfully passed the Infrastructure Committee's initial scrutiny. That allows me to request the scheduling of a motion to debate the draft specified restrictions regulations that will specify the new, two-part, post-test R plate and will be subject to the draft affirmative procedure, which I have done. The need for the Assembly to approve the draft regulations before summer recess is, in essence, holding back the making of the other three SRs. The interdependency of the four SRs means that they must all be made at the same time. I am confident that, once the legislation is in place, the Driver and Vehicle Agency will be operationally ready to deliver GDL on 1 October 2026.”
“The Member will also be aware that that is a policing decision. The police have outlined that, where a crime is committed, they are willing to assist in the removal of materials that are essentially a crime, and they have done so in the past. As I said in my previous response, we continue to work with the PSNI. I also have a duty to protect my staff in the removal of offensive materials. A balance needs to be struck all the time. Regardless of who puts up the material, we have to recognise the risks that may be associated with its removal. That is why I work with the PSNI, as I hope do all statutory bodies. It is not just on DFI property that we see those signs or flags erected. I want to ensure that, whatever we do, we build an inclusive society for everybody here.”
“We work off police advice on whether we should remove whatever the attachment may be, whether it is flags or signs or whatever else. That work continues. We look at everything on a case-by-case basis. I hope that we, as elected representatives across the House, can show leadership about anything that impacts negatively on people in our communities.”
“As the Member will know, that is a long-standing issue. I am pleased to say that my Department has been working closely with the PSNI and other statutory bodies towards a memorandum of understanding to deal with what we know is a sensitive issue. My constituency office has had complaints about flags being erected outside Ardmore police station in Newry, as one recent example. It is a challenging position. We want to ensure that everybody feels that, no matter where they go across the North, it is inclusive and safe. We all have a responsibility to show leadership on these issues. <BR /> <BR />My Department's responsibility is about whether something is a public safety issue. That is why we work with the police on these such issues, particularly where hate crimes have been committed and offensive signage has been erected.”
“Last year, I invested £9 million in the roads recovery fund, which targets more rural areas, recognising the challenges that our rural communities face. I want to continue in that vein. I want to continue to enhance the funding that we can allocate, particularly in rural areas, because I know how important that is for those communities. They feel, rightly, that they have been left behind for many years, since long before my time, in essence because we have had to target A-class roads due to the lack of investment not just in my budget but that of the whole Executive.”
“That is key, particularly in more rural areas where, in the past, we have had to rely on staff to go out and inspect roads when a defect has been reported. That data is now readily available to us, and we have to make sure that we use it efficiently and effectively. As I said in my previous response, we also have to increase our workforce to increase our capacity. That is how we will build in long-term resilience so that, even without additional funding, we can make a real difference.”
“In addition, we will use the digital survey in order to properly inform officials as to where we need to target resources.”
“As the Member will know, I serve a large rural constituency. There is no doubt that many of the roads in south Armagh and in Armagh city are in a dire state. I travel on them every day, so I know just how bad things are. Rural roads make up about 75% of the entire road network and, therefore, a significant proportion of the overall budget for structural and essential maintenance will be targeted towards those roads. I have set out very strongly when working with officials that we need to properly invest in our rural roads, albeit from a constrained financial position. That is something that I am very keen to do, in conjunction with all the work that we are doing on our road maintenance strategy and to address the issues that have had an impact on our roads.”
“<BR /> <BR />I said in my initial answer that when we do not have capacity, we have to use external contractors, which, naturally, comes with an increased cost. There are so many different factors. If the Member writes to me, I will be happy to provide him with more details in relation to Ards and North Down and, perhaps, on where there are issues that affect staff, which may be contributing to the statistics that he has outlined.”
“I have set out clearly what the current methodology is. Based on the information and advice that is available to me, that is the fairest way to do it in order to ensure that distribution is proportionate. I do not wish to dismiss the statistics that the Member outlined, but it is important to look at what the capacity of the workforce may be in that area. That is a key aspect of all of this. I have said before in this Chamber that even if I had all the money that is required to fulfil the total road maintenance needs of our network, it is no good to me if we do not have the staff to deliver that work. There are vacancies, and, as the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee, the Member will be aware that we have undertaken a significant recruitment drive in order to increase our workforce capacity. That is what will help to deliver.”
“Every council area could probably make the same arguments about the numbers of defects and the level of maintenance that is required.”
“We have discussed these matters previously and they were the topic of a recent Adjournment debate, so we have explained how all of that is worked out. <BR /> <BR />My officials will continue to carry out inspections. Any defects that meet the current limited service maintenance policy will be reported for action and will be dealt with as soon as possible. The Member will be aware that we are also considering our budget for 2026/27, and the programme of works will be finalised once a budget is available.”
“The capacity of our internal contractors is also a factor in the allocation of funding. Where our internal capacity cannot fully deliver the current requirements, my Department’s divisions or section offices must engage the services of external contractors. That cost will differ across council areas, depending on relevant capacity and external contract rates. <BR /> <BR />My Department’s four Roads divisions broadly use the indicators that I mentioned when apportioning their allocation across council areas in order to ensure, as far as possible, an equitable distribution of funds. Therefore I would like to assure the Member that Ards and North Down receives a fair and proportionate share of the funding that is made available to my Department for road maintenance, based on all the factors that I have outlined.”
“The distribution of the funding that is available for capital structural maintenance for allocation to the four DFI Roads divisions are made based on need, using a range of weighted indicators that are tailored to each maintenance activity. Divisions broadly use those indicators when apportioning funding across council areas in order to ensure, as far as possible, an equitable distribution of that funding. Those indicators encompass usage, general surface condition, structural deformation, public enquiries and public liability claims. <BR /> <BR />The factors that are taken into account when distributing the available funding for essential maintenance activities such as patching and grass cutting include, for example, defect information, areas of grass and numbers of gullies.”
“Similar to what I said in response to a previous question, that project was identified in the prioritisation strategy, as the Member will know. I was very pleased to include it, because I recognise the importance of that line. Officials are working closely with Translink to progress those business cases. Everything is subject to budget availability, as the Member will also know. I have been working very closely with my counterparts in the South. I met Minister Darragh O'Brien again last week at the Transport Ireland conference. There is a huge feeling of positivity and ambition across our island about what the future holds for rail. I am very keen for us to be a key part of that and that we see the full realisation of what has been set out in the all-island strategic rail review and the most recent prioritisation strategy.”
“We have to be honest with the public, however, and say that those comments on the current assessment of what might be needed in the future are a result not of a fare freeze but of long-term underinvestment in the Executive's Budget and my budget for the Department for Infrastructure and of our inability to fully fund the needs of Translink and all our arm's-length bodies (ALBs). We have to put it in that context, but I continue to work hard with Translink to ensure that we avoid any potential service cuts. While those are operational decisions for Translink, when it comes to anything that it feels that it has to do, we will ensure that it protects its most vulnerable users, particularly those in rural communities, who, for many reasons, are more reliant on public transport.”
“It was about giving them some certainty and the option to use public transport instead of having to fill up their car to get to and from work, medical appointments or wherever they may need to go, so that they know that they have a lower-cost option that can help them to keep their head above water in these uncertain and challenging times. <BR /> <BR />We continue to work with Translink, because I do not want to see any service cuts. In fact, I want us to be able to enhance services.”
“As the Member will know, there has been no detail about what Translink has been looking at. I have been engaging with Translink representatives. I met the chair of the board just last week, and I will have a meeting with Translink's wider board next week. The Member referred to information that the chief executive provided at Committee and alludes to the fare freeze that I announced a number of weeks ago. I took that decision in the context of the continuing cost-of-living crisis, as households face significant and rising costs that are beyond the control of us all and as we deal with the rising fuel crisis and things like that. For me, that was about protecting the public and people who are already struggling.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said in response to the previous question, progress on reopening the line is subject to the completion of those business cases, the wider pieces of work, budget availability and securing the required consents. We still have some way to go to get through all of that, but work continues. We are working very closely with Translink, and I hope that we can soon make Members aware of what progress has been made and what we can expect in the near future.”
“I thank the Member for his comments. It is all very positive. We have set out very clearly, particularly through the announcement of the prioritisation strategy, what we want to do. It is incumbent on me and everybody involved to continue to work to ensure that that is delivered. The Department continues to work with Translink to look at the potential new halts at Crumlin, Glenavy and Belfast International Airport as part of that Knockmore to Antrim route. The Department is progressing the necessary technical modelling and the development of a business case to assess options for improving services along that corridor. That work in respect of the halts is scheduled for completion later this year, and its findings will inform any future decisions on the viability of new halts and how we can fully realise those in the time ahead.”