Patrick Brown
South Down · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you Mr Speaker, for giving leave to allow this petition to be presented. The petition consists of 12,738 signatures calling for the completion of A1 road improvements.”
“It carries over 40,000 vehicles a day and is a vital North/South transport link on the economic corridor between Dublin and Belfast. However, along the 25 kilometre stretch from Hillsborough to Loughbrickland, it is peppered with junctions from main roads and private accesses and has turning gaps all down the central reserve, creating hug…”
“I therefore call on the Finance Minister to work with the Infrastructure Minister to ensure that works on the scheme can begin soon and ask both Ministers to continue to engage with colleagues in the South to explore additional funding for road safety upgrades on the A1.”
“Thank you, deputy First Minister. Given that the Executive Office has tabled an applicability motion regarding a new EU act on organic pet food, can the deputy First Minister confirm that her Department will take a similar approach to any and all future EU acts that fall within the remit of an applicability motion?”
“I thank the signatories to the motion for tabling it. It is a very important issue and one that deserves perhaps more attention than it often gets. NI Water is a crucial aspect of our infrastructure in Northern Ireland and provides a service that none of us can live without: clean, fresh water and the safe disposal of waste water.”
“It adds unnecessary costs to developers, costs that, as has been discussed, will ultimately be passed on to homebuyers and reflect wasted potential in our economy.”
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“While phase 2 of the A1 junction scheme will improve travel time on that key route, its primary benefit, much like that of the A5, will be to enhance road safety and prevent further loss of life. It should rightly be prioritised in the Department for Infrastructure's major roads programme. The investment secured for the A5 is a reminder to the House, now that it is restored, to redouble our efforts to secure adequate funding for the A1 junction scheme, which, having been estimated to cost £70 million in 2020, pales in comparison with more substantial schemes. <BR /> <BR />Every day, the road represents an unacceptable risk to life.”
“In light of the positive news received recently from the Irish Government that they plan to contribute €600 million to the A5 north-west corridor through the Shared Island initiative, I want to make clear the continued need for investment in road safety improvements for the A1. <BR /> <BR />Like the A5, the A1 is a vital North/South transport route, carrying around 40,000 vehicles per day on the economic corridor between Belfast and Dublin. Yet, it remains one of the most dangerous roads in the country, with 41 people losing their lives on it in the last 17 years. I pay particular tribute to Monica Heaney of campaign group A1: How Many Must Die?, who has tirelessly campaigned for improvements since her son was tragically killed in a collision near Banbridge in May 2018.”
“Does the Member agree that it may have been helpful if the Opposition had published some proposals on reform prior to, say, May 2022?”
“More must be done by the Minister's Department and others if we are to avoid the existential collapse of the local economy in the county town of Down. We must ensure that departmental funding is being spent where it is needed most. Therefore, I kindly ask the Minister to outline his Department's plans to ensure the medium-to-long-term recovery and regeneration of towns that have been devastated by flooding.”
“Many of the larger chain stores that help to drive footfall have closed permanently or have not given a date for reopening. <BR /> <BR />Downpatrick has long suffered from underinvestment, with the council planning to spend tens of millions on regeneration and capital projects in Newry and Newcastle but having delivered no major investment in recent times for Downpatrick. Often, Downpatrick feels like a forgotten town and rightly so. Take, for example, the £180,000 that was given to the council by the Department for Communities immediately after the flooding to aid recovery in Downpatrick and Newry. Most of it is being spent on St Patrick's Day parades, events that the council has, until this year, funded itself. Nothing new is being done to help to support businesses to bounce back.”
“<BR /> <BR />I know that, today, many businesses will be pulling together their paperwork to apply for the £100,000 grants and that, as elected representatives, we will all stand ready to support them through that process. I note that the deadline for applications is 22 March, which is, hopefully, a suitable deadline to give businesses enough time to apply, whilst ensuring that funding can be distributed quickly and efficiently. On that point, I would take the opportunity to ask the Minister for indicative time frames on when he expects the first payments under the £100,000 scheme to be made and when the parallel £5,000 and £2,500 schemes are likely to open for applications. <BR /> <BR />In addition to support for individual businesses, there remains an urgent need to invest in wider regeneration and recovery across flood-hit towns.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome, however, the fact that the second phase of funding seeks to address a number of the issues that have been raised consistently by the business community and elected representatives regarding previous exclusions, not least the provision of two new hardship schemes, including a £2,500 grant for businesses that did not flood but were forced to close or lost out on income due to flood-related disruption and a new £5,000 grant for businesses and non-domestic properties previously excluded from funding. Whilst, in some cases, those schemes will not go far enough, they are a good start and will provide a much-needed cash injection for Downpatrick and other impacted areas.”
“<BR /> <BR />It must be recognised that, in a small number of cases, even £100,000 will be insufficient to cover losses. I can think, for example, of a pub and a dentist in Downpatrick that have several hundred thousand pounds' worth of documented losses and no insurance and, indeed, of the well-publicised case of Downpatrick and County Down Railway, which has estimated losses of £2·3 million but is insured only for £250,000. Going by the criteria and the announcement last week, all that the railway will receive now is £5,000, which is a drop in the ocean, all things considered.”
“Businesses that had not received a rates bill due to a Land and Property Services (LPS) administrative error and were therefore judged as not having paid rates did not qualify for the grant, nor did businesses that had flood insurance but faced huge excesses, deductions or gaps in cover. Most sports and non-trading charities did not get a penny either. <BR /> <BR />There was a significant underspend in that first phase, which perhaps reflected the overly conservative and rigid criteria set out by the Department. That is why I asked the Minister yesterday about his plans for any underspend in the next phase. I welcome his response that he intends to see the full £15 million invested in economic recovery, and, indeed, I agree with him that we could use much more.”
“There will always be exceptions, however, and it is incredibly difficult to develop a one-size-fits-all scheme of that nature. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the Minister will remain flexible and open-minded when criteria, well intentioned as they may be, do not always align with realities on the ground. Unfortunately, that was the case with the first phase of £7,500 grants that were developed by departmental officials soon after the flooding. While they provided a valuable cash injection for some, many were left exasperated and upset when they were declined for that grant for a variety of reasons, without any appeals process. I will give just a few examples from Downpatrick. Flooded businesses that had just taken on a premises, were paying rates and had planned to open literally the next week did not qualify.”
“I appreciate that those are questions for another day and another Minister, and I welcome the commitment from DFI Rivers to lead a review of what happened and review the adequacy of flood defences in the area. <BR /> <BR />I turn to the announcement from the Minister last week and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council opening applications for the next round of funding today. I know that there will be many businesses in my constituency breathing a deep sigh of relief that further help is on its way. The fund is generous — up to £100,000, based on an assessment of losses — and I know from having personally surveyed all businesses impacted by flooding in Downpatrick that that will be adequate to cover losses in the vast majority of cases.”
“With the constant threat of climate change, we must prepare our communities, our economy and our infrastructure for more natural disasters like this and ensure that those who have already spent hundreds of thousands of pounds rebuilding their businesses have not done so in vain. <BR /> <BR />Wider questions must also be asked about how flooding this severe happened. Could we have done anything to stop it or minimise its impact? I know that, in Newry, there are questions over how the canal flooded, given that it is basically impossible for canals to flood if managed properly. Could targeted clearance and dredging of the River Quoile have increased its capacity, reducing the amount of water that flowed into the town?”
“I have no doubt that the absence of an Executive contributed to the insecurity and worry experienced by many during and after the floods. Now that the Executive have been restored, we can ensure that that never happens again. <BR /> <BR />We are, at any time, just a few days of heavy rainfall away from the same disaster as we saw last year, which represents an existential and ever-present threat to our local economy. Our flood defences in Downpatrick are still inadequate. Our main river, the Quoile, remains choked and blocked with toxic sludge and silt from years of neglect and mismanagement. Our storm water infrastructure is totally insufficient, and nothing tangible has been done to establish local flood resilience networks or an early warning system.”
“<BR /> <BR />Incredible resilience has been shown by the entire Downpatrick community, but that resilience has been tested time and time again as people have had to wait almost four months for the latest funding round to open. I know that that is not the Minister's fault and that he has moved to realise the second phase as quickly as possible since coming into office. It is a fact, however, that businesses in my constituency and in the Minister's should never have had to go with a begging bowl to a Tory Secretary of State asking for bits and pieces of reappropriated funding to be packaged together as a flood relief fund. Instead, we should have had locally accountable Ministers on the ground on day 1 of the flooding, working together to develop an adequate and urgent flood relief fund.”
“<BR /> <BR />I watched our local community come together in the clean-up effort and beyond to support and rally around our local business community and saw first-hand the trauma experienced by those who, in a matter of hours, had seen their livelihoods literally washed away, with no idea whether they would get any support to help them rebuild. The mental health impact of that cannot be overstated. Whilst we are talking today about economic recovery, many people have rightly compared the loss of a family business to the loss of a friend or relative. Regardless of any financial package, the trauma experienced during those few days will stay with many people for a long time.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have particular memories of standing waist-deep in dirty, oil-filled water with the Minister's colleague Chris Hazzard MP, helping a local business, Making Memories for You, which sells communion dresses, carry their precious stock out of the shop to safety. I worked with DUP councillor Alan Lewis, who, despite not representing Downpatrick district electoral area, travelled to help clear out debris and rescue what stock we could from JJ Donnelly Menswear after the floodwater had receded. Indeed, together with SDLP colleagues, I helped Tom's Wine Barrel move its stock to a safer location. Local politicians were not immune from the impact of the floods, with my constituency office flooding. However, any damage there paled in comparison with what many others experienced.”
“I can see colleagues in the Chamber from all parties who were on the ground as that was happening in real time. We were watching the water level rise and scrambling to do whatever we could to help, whether that was lifting sandbags, coordinating with agencies and the public, helping people move belongings and much more. It was a surreal week, full of tragedy for those who experienced significant damage to their homes and livelihoods. However, it was also one that brought out the best in people, as everyone, including politicians, business owners, residents, council workers, the Fire Service, DFI employees and local farmers, banded together to help each other through an unprecedented natural disaster.”
“For the best part of three days, half of the business premises on those streets were under four to five feet of water. Many watched in slow motion as water levels slowly crept up throughout the Thursday and Friday of that week. Some were able to remove stock and property from their stores. Some were told incorrectly by public agencies that the water levels probably would not get any higher and that they did not need to worry, and not a single business received any warning or alert that flooding was likely, despite the near full week of rain that preceded it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Unprecedented levels of rainfall across Northern Ireland during Halloween week last year resulted in historic flooding across the country, most severely in parts of Downpatrick, Newcastle, Newry and Portadown. As the debate is focused on economic recovery in South Down, most of my comments will be focused on the impact that the floods had on businesses in Downpatrick. None of that should take away from the real impact that the floods had on many businesses in Newry and Portadown, on fishing vessels in Kilkeel or on hundreds of residents in Newcastle. <BR /> <BR />The relative impact on Downpatrick and its economy cannot be overstated. The two main commercial streets in the town are Market Street and St Patrick's Avenue.”
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the economic recovery of businesses in South Down following the devastating flooding across the south-east of Northern Ireland last year. I thank the Minister for his attendance. I know that he has first-hand experience of the issue, being a representative for Newry city, which was also badly affected by last year's floods. I am delighted that, just this afternoon, he oversaw the opening of the second phase of flood-recovery funding, which represents a substantial package of funding schemes to help businesses to recover and rebuild. I am particularly pleased that that has coincided perfectly with this debate.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Members who tabled the motion and those who tabled the amendment. I am happy to give the subject my full support.”
“While I understand the need for the review to focus on connectivity between main towns and cities, it is important that we do not forget about heritage railways and the forgotten trackbeds that are scattered across our countryside, in many cases, grown over, divided by new roads and housing or repurposed for greenways and cycle paths. Whilst there is no problem in principle with those developments, it is somewhat sad that no statutory protections exist for disused railway lines and the important heritage that they represent. A worthy spin-off of the all-island review could be a look at how we better utilise and care for those important historical assets. The Department for Infrastructure could perhaps begin by looking at how, in partnership with councils, it adequately supports the operation of heritage railway associations, for example.”
“I said "constituencies". <BR /> <BR />However, I can empathise with our friends in Fermanagh, as that is the only county that is excluded from the review. <BR /> <BR />While we may lack a public rail network, my constituency is home to Ireland's only full-size heritage railway, the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, a volunteer-led organisation that does incredible work to promote the history and heritage of rail. It is important, given this opportunity, to recognise it in the debate, in addition to other heritage railways at Foyle Valley and Bushmills, because the motion references the role that rail plays in enhancing tourism. We must recognise the fact that, in and of themselves, railways are a draw for tourists, and not just as a means of transport.”
“Alas, growing up in South Down, I was not able to enjoy those things on a regular basis, with my constituency lacking any active public railway. I believe that, along with Strangford and Mid Ulster, we are the only constituencies that are not included in or touched by the all-island review. I can therefore empathise with our —.”
“The Member will enjoy the next part of my paragraph as I come to that very issue.”
“It is particularly positive that the all-island rail review sets out plans for the electrification of new and existing lines. It is also vital that we continue to work with our colleagues in the Irish Government to deliver cross-border schemes and leverage the value of that North/South partnership, which was demonstrated clearly through last week's positive announcements on the A5, Casement Park, Narrow Water bridge and other projects. <BR /> <BR />With no offence whatsoever to buses and other forms of public transport, there is nothing quite like rail travel for efficiency, comfort and seeing beautiful parts of the world zip by the window. Indeed, the rail network on the island of Ireland runs —.”
“As an Alliance infrastructure spokesperson, I take the opportunity to welcome the motion and the amendment. Rail services are an important driver of our economy and are key to enhancing connectivity and social capital, particularly in those rural towns and villages that are under-served by public transport options. <BR /> <BR />Oxford Economics estimates that, for every £1 that is spent on rail in the UK, £2·50 is generated in the wider economy. It is a fact that the expansion of new lines can bring a significant boost and breathe life into previously declining urban centres. Investing in our public rail infrastructure is also a vital step in reducing our carbon footprint and achieving our decarbonisation goals by 2050.”
“I admit to the Member that I am not overly familiar with that area. However, our member on the AERA Committee has just advised me that he is aware of that serious issue. <BR /> <BR />I also point out that the motion, as worded, was not exclusive to sea fisheries, and that is why I raised the matter of inland fisheries. I was also on my final sentence before those two interventions, which, of course, I welcome. <BR /> <BR />To recap, I wish the Minister well as he works in partnership with the fishing industry to maximise its economic potential, realise new opportunities and chart a course for sustainability in fishing.”
“Absolutely, and, for a number of years, I have worked closely with local coarse anglers in my constituency to try to get the Quoile river restocked, recognising that potential tourism draw.”
“We are all well aware of the threats facing fishing businesses operating on Lough Neagh, and, in my area, rivers once internationally popular for coarse fishing, such as the River Quoile, are shadows of what they used to be, as a result of decades of ecological neglect and harm. <BR /> <BR />The act of fishing is intrinsically linked to the care and custodianship of our environment. One cannot thrive without the other, and I wish the Minister well as he works in partnership with the fishing industry to maximise its economic potential, realise new opportunities and —”
“<BR /> <BR />The capital investment outlined in the fishing and seafood development programme will significantly boost that economic dividend, with ambitious plans to expand and deepen Kilkeel harbour, creating an Irish Sea marine hub that will offer expertise in vessel repair and offshore services. Growing the capacity of Ardglass harbour will secure the vital fishing and processing industries there, and investment in Portavogie will help it to maintain its fishing industry and explore blue economy opportunities, as my colleague Kellie Armstrong said. <BR /> <BR />Whilst the discussion of the motion has focused on sea fisheries, and rightly so, the Member for Mid Ulster was right to draw attention to inland fisheries. It would be remiss of me not to reflect on the challenges facing inland fisheries, commercial and recreational.”
“I welcome his commitment to work with other Departments to ensure a just transition to more environmentally friendly vessels. <BR /> <BR />It was also great to see the Minister prioritise a visit to Portavogie harbour during his first weeks in office, meeting Northern Ireland Fish Producers’ Organisation (NIFPO) representatives and other local stakeholders. I very much look forward to welcoming him to Kilkeel and Ardglass harbours. The fishing and seafood development programme represents a huge opportunity for those three harbours, which collectively generate an annual turnover of £135 million, support 1,550 jobs and produce an estimated gross value added (GVA) of £55·5 million per annum for the Northern Ireland economy.”
“UK Government changes to unskilled worker visa rules, combined with our exit from the European Union, have resulted in labour shortages, and the rising cost of fuel as a result of the war in Ukraine has left many vessels unable to reap any economic benefit that may have come from increased quotas. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the AERA Minister's commitment during the most recent ministerial Question Time to write to the UK Government outlining the impact that those visa changes are having on the fishing industry in Northern Ireland. Whilst the cost of fuel is beyond the control of this place, I know that the Minister has been a champion for the decarbonisation of our fishing fleet, with Northern Ireland having an old fleet compared with those of GB and EU nations.”
“With that, though, comes a great responsibility, as those grounds are also some of the most biologically sensitive in Europe. At all times, we must balance the demands of the economy and food security with those of sustainability and safeguarding the marine environment. <BR /> <BR />All the fishermen and women whom I know are proud custodians of the sea, and I have great respect for the highly skilled and hard work that they do, which is often passed down through generations. We must do all that we can to ensure that the culture and heritage of fishing are protected for future generations, but hard work alone will not overcome the significant and serious challenges that the fishing industry has faced in recent times.”
“I thank the proposers of the motion for tabling it today, and I agree with them that we must recognise the need to safeguard and build our fishing industry in Northern Ireland. As a representative of South Down, home to the two largest fishing fleets, at Kilkeel and Ardglass, I know at first hand the challenges facing the industry, as clearly outlined by the Members who spoke previously. <BR /> <BR />Fishing and coastal communities have a rich and important history and are integral to the wider economy and life in rural communities. We are blessed in Northern Ireland with some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, and, in South Down, we are doubly blessed to be in close proximity to some of the most productive fishing grounds in Europe.”
“<BR /> <BR />There was great concern across the local area when funding for this project was put on hold as a result of these institutions being suspended for two years. This announcement by the Minister is a welcome statement of what this place can deliver when it is functioning. I only hope that the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister of Finance are paying similar attention to the need to finally deliver the long-awaited Ballynahinch bypass, which is right on the edge of my constituency. I also wish to put on record the long-term aspiration and need for an eastern bypass around the county town of Downpatrick.”
“The reduction of vehicular travel may also open up the opportunity for smaller-scale complementary infrastructure schemes in Enniskillen town, such as cycle lanes, one-way systems and pedestrian zones, which can promote active travel and enhance the vibrancy of a town centre. <BR /> <BR />Given the rural nature of the area, the continued reliance of the local population on cars and the absence of viable public transport options — I lament Fermanagh's exclusion from the all-island rail review — schemes such as this are vital for securing the growth and the well-being of rural communities. This road will also be vital, as upgrades to the A32 Omagh to Enniskillen road are, for ensuring that there is timely and safe access to emergency services at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).”
“To date, £2 million-worth of advance site works have taken place, so this funding to enable the procurement and construction phases to begin is the final positive step for this important roads project. <BR /> <BR />The proposed scheme has strong cross-party support. My colleague in the Enniskillen district electoral area (DEA), Councillor Eddie Roofe, has been working closely with other local parties and stakeholders to push the plans forward. At just 3 kilometres, this is a relatively minor works project, but it will have a huge impact on traffic flow and addressing congestion in Enniskillen town. That will pay considerable dividends in terms of air pollution, ease of access to the town centre and reducing traffic, which is particularly important for the safety of schoolchildren and pedestrians.”
“That €800 million investment is a further positive step towards realising the huge potential of the €3·5 billion Shared Island Fund to build North/South connectivity, which will crucially also alleviate pressure on the already stretched capital budgets of the Executive. <BR /> <BR />It is worth noting that the Enniskillen southern bypass has been in the works for a significant time. It was first formally proposed in the 'Expanding the Strategic Road Improvement Programme 2015' in 2006, with planning starting two years after that in 2008 and the preferred route being announced in 2015. As the Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone laid out, however, it was talked about well before her or I were around.”
“I thank the Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone for bringing this debate to the Chamber, the subject matter of which is important to the well-being of many in her constituency and to the sustainable development of Enniskillen town and the wider area. I welcomed the Minister of Finance's statement, yesterday, announcing the release of £16·2 million as part of the wider financial package, which will allow a further £12·5 million to be drawn down from the Mid South West growth deal and enable this project to move to the procurement stage. <BR /> <BR />Indeed, this is a very good day for roads across the North. As my party's infrastructure spokesperson, I take this opportunity to welcome the positive announcement from the Irish Government this afternoon regarding the A5 and Narrow Water bridge, amongst other important projects.”
“Does the Minister agree that a flat-rate £1,000 payment is inadequate to cover household damage from flooding in many cases and that a payment based on actual losses would be preferable?”
“We need to look at the Planning Appeals Committee, include it in any reforms and ensure that there is a fair and open objection process that can help to balance the asymmetries that often exist between individuals and institutions. We must consider the departmental call-in process and ensure that it is transparent and efficient and that it does not unreasonably delay regionally significant applications, which are so often key drivers of our economy. <BR /> <BR />Despite some reservations on the wording of the motion on the protection of our countryside and on the enhancement of and support for renewable energy, we are content to support it, and I look forward to working with the Minister and other Members to see positive and progressive reform of the planning system in this mandate.”
“Far too often, constituents of mine who are seeking to install renewable energy, particularly farmers seeking to diversify their income, have run afoul of an overly conservative interpretation of planning policy that would deny wind turbines or photovoltaic (PV) panel installations on the grounds of visual impact in the countryside, not perhaps realising that, unless we make the microgeneration of renewable energy more accessible, there will be no countryside left to enjoy. We can begin by exploring permitted development rights for certain small-scale renewable installations and amending policy in order to ensure that renewable applications are streamlined through the planning process. <BR /> <BR />Enhancing trust and transparency in the planning process is also crucial.”
“In any reform, we must ensure that the planning system does not become further estranged from the public good. Planning policy must contain the incentives that are required to help us build a better society. That means not only growing our economy but addressing homelessness through aiding the delivery of high-quality social and affordable housing by, for example, reforming PPS 21 and ensuring that local development plans are finally delivered. <BR /> <BR />We must ensure that the climate emergency is deeply and intrinsically embedded in planning policy and local development plans.”
“For example, it has always concerned me that animal welfare is not a material planning concern, given the minimal protections that there are against industrial factory farming or large-scale puppy farming.”
“I was a councillor at the time, and that application really demonstrated to me that the fundamental values underpinning our planning system are inherently flawed.”
“From Carlingford lough, up through the Mourne Mountains to the shores of the Lecale coast, we are uniquely blessed in South Down with outstanding natural beauty. It will come as no surprise that, as a Member of the Assembly, I will seek to do all that I can to champion and protect those environmental assets throughout my term. <BR /> <BR />I would like to take the opportunity to recognise the hard work and public service of former MLAs Sinéad Bradley and Emma Rogan, who represented South Down in the previous mandate, and, indeed, Jim Wells, who served the area since 1982. Jim and I disagreed on just about everything that you could think of, except the environment and animal welfare. We once found common cause campaigning to stop planning permission for an industrial-scale poultry farm outside Ballynahinch.”
“With something as technical and complex as the rules and guidance governing our planning process in Northern Ireland, it is vital that we send the right message. Reform without clear and justified purpose will only take us backwards. The motion, perhaps, misses an opportunity to more comprehensively and concretely embed the climate emergency and green economy within the topic of planning reform. <BR /> <BR />In my maiden speech, it is only right that I take a moment to reflect on the importance of the natural environment in my constituency of South Down and the role that the planning process can and must play in protecting and safeguarding it for generations to come. Growing up in the countryside between Crossgar and Downpatrick has given me a special appreciation of rural life.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone for moving the motion. I congratulate her on her appointment as Chair of the Committee for Infrastructure, and I look forward to working with you on that Committee. I congratulate my colleague from East Belfast on his excellent maiden speech, and I congratulate in advance my colleague from Lagan Valley on what will, no doubt, be another excellent maiden speech. <BR /> <BR />I very much welcome the opportunity to debate this important issue during the first full week of Assembly business and to send a strong message that planning reform must be prioritised in this restored mandate. As my colleague from East Belfast clearly laid out, we have some reservations about the wording of the motion.”
“I congratulate the Minister on his appointment, and I very much look forward to working with him on the Infrastructure Committee. <BR /> <BR />I very much welcome the statement. It is, of course, most appropriate that we are discussing potholes on the first full day of Assembly business, given the huge number of constituency queries that we all receive on the issue. My question is somewhat similar to Mr Buchanan's. What steps is the Minister taking to explore innovative solutions to more quickly and efficiently fill and patch potholes in order to maximise the impact of the investment? I believe that some ideas are being trialled in council areas.”