Peter McReynolds
East Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I start by sharing my condolences and those of my party colleagues to the family of Kourtney McCormick on her tragic passing. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the important next step in the introduction of the graduated driver licensing scheme as Alliance spokesperson for Infrastructure, a Policing Board member and chair of the all-party group on r…”
“<BR /> <BR />I commend those from the driving instructor industry, the DVA and those in the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership for all their work in preparing for the smooth introduction of the GDL measures. They have been proactive and thorough in ensuring that they understand what is expected of them to make GDL a success story.”
“We have already had 33 road deaths this year alone, and more than 150 since 2024. It is clear that more needs to be done to improve road safety.”
“The revised restrictions will include a mandatory minimum learning period of six months; a programme of training; a logbook; passenger restrictions; new R-plates; the extension of the post-test period to 24 months; and removal of the 45 mph speed limit on motorways.”
“First Minister, the Institute of Directors and the Construction Employers Federation are still calling for the establishment of an independent, expert-led infrastructure commission some five years after it appeared on page 27 of the previous Executive's COVID recovery plan, to which you were a co-signatory.”
“<BR /> <BR />East Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole have huge potential for aviation development, and the master plan is just one part of a larger move towards sustainable and environmentally friendly travel.”
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“Moreover — I am saying this as someone from Belfast — the west has endured chronic underfunding, having missed out on major infrastructure projects and improved rural connectivity. Upgrading the A5 will reduce road deaths and stimulate job creation and economic growth, and the impact of that will be felt along all the surrounding areas. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate, as we have heard from Mr Buchanan and Mrs Erskine, that there are concerns about and challenges with the project and that there will be an impact for those who live along it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Since becoming an MLA in February 2022, I have focused my attention on the infrastructure portfolio through the Committee and on road safety as a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. The latter work is tragic and rightly emotive, and the former is expensive and fraught with delays. Since the upgrades were first proposed in 2007, sadly, little has changed, as we heard this evening, but the risks have increased, with larger vehicles and the volume of cars on our roads continuing to grow. When we had an Adjournment debate on the topic last year, my party colleague pointed out that 50 people at that point had, sadly, lost their lives: as of today, that figure has risen to 57. That means that 10% of road deaths occur at locations along the A5.”
“I rise as an East Belfast MLA but also as someone with family from Strabane who use the A5 regularly, as an Infrastructure Committee member and as chair of the all-party group on road safety. I thank the Member for securing the Adjournment debate. I pay tribute, as Mr Gildernew has just done, to the grassroots efforts of all those in civic society who continue to loudly demand the progress that is needed to save lives along that stretch of road. In particular, I pay tribute to the Tyrone GAA Enough is Enough campaign, which is chaired by Niall McKenna and, in recent times, has, incredibly importantly, placed the stories of victims and their families at the centre of the discussion.”
“Thank you, deputy First Minister. Given that the costs are four times higher than originally envisaged and that the accommodation is broadly unfit for purpose, what update do you have for us today on when the refugee integration strategy will be published?”
“The pedestrianisation of Hill Street will involve minor works and minor costs but will achieve major change for a small but well-used area of Belfast. <BR /> <BR />Damien and Michael are in the Public Gallery. Can we, please, commit to getting this sorted urgently, and can we, at worst, to quote Willie Jack's recent remarks, have it done before the fleadh gets here in 2026 and we miss out on another opportunity? Experimenting and consulting are no longer needed, but action is.”
“The pedestrianisation of Hill Street is a no-brainer that will support the safety of pedestrians. There is, however, a wider piece that I can see as an Infrastructure Committee member, in that there is a lack of will to go for the quick wins for the benefit of the greater good. That is what the Adjournment debate is trying to achieve today. I am starting to see routinely people saying, "The computer says no", or, "Everyone must agree," or, "Let's consult again to get the answer that we know that we'll probably get". Let us reimagine our public spaces and deliver family-friendly, pedestrian-friendly public spaces that will reanimate Belfast and mirror what we see across so many major European cities.”
“To the envy of the world, the Mayor of Paris had begun to restructure and reclaim Paris during COVID, whereas here, in Belfast, I remember a few cones being put down in Hill Street. Sadly, they were being driven over by cars. What a wonderful and poetic image for car dominance in Belfast: cones, which were there to keep people safe and to deter entry, being driven over for the convenience of a few. <BR /> <BR />I also regularly found myself drawing a comparison with the Glider in east Belfast, which was opposed by a small minority at the time but made absolute sense and is now part of the furniture, bridging east Belfast and west Belfast and connecting people in ways never seen before.”
“I will speak in the debate on behalf of my Alliance colleague Nuala McAllister MLA, who is, unfortunately, unwell. I caution, however, that I am originally from North Belfast as well. I thank the Member for securing the Adjournment debate and the Minister for attending. <BR /> <BR />Five years ago, during COVID, as a councillor in Belfast City Council, I found myself talking regularly about the pedestrianisation of Hill Street and the wider pedestrianisation of the city centre. Like most people, I saw COVID as an opportunity to take advantage of the reduction in cars and people on our streets in order to deliver the radical changes needed to reclaim and reanimate public spaces. I found myself regularly drawing a comparison between Belfast and Paris, where I lived a number of years ago.”
“Thank you, Minister, for that thorough response. Will you provide an update on regulation and enforcement arrangements regarding sewage pollution by Northern Ireland Water?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, you mentioned the vital work around supporting women entrepreneurs, including the eight pilot programmes that InterTradeIreland led in 2024. What is your assessment of that work, and when will it be evaluated?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, I noted in your statement the welcome commitment to address sustainability challenges. What actions are being taken to help our tourism sector become more sustainable?”
“We could push back against water charges, ignoring the fact that we already pay for water in the most inefficient and wasteful way possible. We could shout, "Privatisation" but, in the same breath, praise the work of housing associations, which can operate in a more flexible way — a way that we are asking to explore. <BR /> <BR />The make-up of and issues in Northern Ireland Water come up consistently, as the Minister said today, but things are getting worse, and the problems are not going away. I encourage the Minister to take this matter of public health seriously, implement the recommendations of the Audit Office, conduct a publicly accessible review as a matter of urgency and put the matter to bed. Internal reviews that none of us is able to see are not achieving the goal of supporting Northern Ireland Water.”
“That is precisely why we have human waste in Belfast lough, which is fast on its way to becoming the next Lough Neagh; human waste 200 metres from my parents' house in north Belfast, which was revealed in a 'Spotlight' programme just last year; an artificially created beach of sewage because the system cannot cope with the sheer volume of rubbish; and a burst storm overflow drain that flowed with toilet water for around three days in north Belfast last summer. That is the system that is being allowed to barely function because it is out of sight and out of mind. <BR /> <BR />What are our options? We could sit back, do nothing and hope for the best, and then, next summer, the outrage will begin, and we will be shocked at how that could happen in 2025 on our front doorsteps.”
“However, as with the earlier debate on the establishment of an independent, expert-led infrastructure commission and as with the 2023 Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman's report titled 'Strengthening Our Roots' , a theme emerges: we are no further on with implementing any of those recommendations in 2025. They are crucial to addressing major and fundamental issues with Northern Ireland Water and engaging the work of experts to understand what needs to happen. <BR /> <BR />What we currently have is not working. It is not replicated anywhere across the world that I am aware of. Our funding model and annual budgets to fund the treatment of water to make it safe to drink is not the best way in which to achieve that goal.”
“It carried out excellent work to establish an objective and clear way forward in its March 2024 report to address major issues and cracks that are starting to appear in Northern Ireland Water. We have tens of thousands of homeless people in Northern Ireland, but we cannot build homes. We cannot build businesses or create the jobs needed to facilitate them because network connections cannot be made, as we have heard today. <BR /> <BR />The conclusion in the Audit Office report was as follows:”
“<BR /> <BR />Since becoming an MLA in 2022, I have raised the issue on several occasions. We hear regularly from the Minister that we have looked at the matter time and time again. I am aware of six internal reports that have never been made public to allow an informed discussion and debate to take place, looking at the key facts and collectively deciding from there. Upon asking the Minister and the permanent secretary at a recent Committee meeting to publish those reports, I was told that they were already public and accessible. Further written clarification established that that was not the case. We were then given six unnamed reports alongside two Research and Information Service (RaISe) documents that spanned roughly a decade. <BR /> <BR />As a Committee, we recently had the Audit Office before us.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank Members for their contributions today. As I have said in the Chamber before, when I studied human rights law back in 2011, I met MLAs for the first time to discuss water management and the creation of Northern Ireland Water in 2007. Back then, the Assembly had to grapple with how to manage and provide water infrastructure to residents and businesses across Northern Ireland. Today, we can all agree or disagree on policy and have different opinions. However, my party colleagues and I consider it vital that we have the bravery to discuss how we manage water — it is a resource that is financially intensive and that does not just fall from the sky in a safe-to-drink state — and that we do so in a way that is transparent, clear and factual.”
“Can we please just get on with what we agreed in the past and start making this place function on evidence and expert input?”
“That is what infrastructure projects deserve and require. However, four years on, we are in the exact same place, and, true to form, nothing has changed. <BR /> <BR />Alliance believes that the creation of an independent and expert-led — those are key words — infrastructure commission is essential for guiding our approach to major infrastructure projects. We need to have engineering experts at the table during the planning and formulation of projects, delivering what is needed free from political interference, while helping us meet our climate targets. What we have at the moment is an internal working group that is not accountable and does not publish reports. Groundhog Day. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the motion and thank the Opposition for tabling it.”
“Delays and cost hikes are the norm rather than the exception, and there are other factors that delay the completion of projects and mean that they are not completed on time and on budget. <BR /> <BR />Key for me in the debate is the fact that, in 2021, the Assembly and the Executive agreed with the conclusions of the ministerial advisory panel that our infrastructure was not delivering for our people due to the delivery and governance structures being too fragmented and lacking a strategic long-term view. For that reason, an infrastructure commission would empower us to deliver cleaner, greener, sustainable and inclusive growth for all. It is there in black and white on page 27 of the consolidated COVID recovery plan, which states that there should be a”
“I rise as the Alliance Party's infrastructure spokesperson. I am delighted that we have a day of infrastructure debates in front of us. <BR /> <BR />As Members will know, I have highlighted several times in the Chamber and in Committee that Infrastructure is a Department that does not get the respect that it deserves. When we get it wrong or miss opportunities to improve it, our environment and our ability to get around and create necessary homes and jobs are affected. Major capital projects are what Northern Ireland is built on. The problem is that they are now increasingly complex, as we have heard from the proposer of the amendment, and we can no longer just think it and build it.”
“I encourage all Members to learn about MS and to increase their awareness and understanding of it. Together, we can tackle the stigma that is associated with the condition and how it affects people in various forms in Northern Ireland.”
“I am thankful that it does not limit me in carrying out the work that I do for my constituents every day or in standing in the Chamber today. <BR /> <BR />The first Northern Ireland multiple sclerosis research hub, which will be dedicated to tackling MS, will be launched at Queen's University this evening. It will increase capacity in MS research and create opportunities for those interested in building a career in researching MS, training and retaining the future generations of researchers in Northern Ireland. It will benefit those around the world who have been or may in the future be diagnosed with the condition. <BR /> <BR />I again thank the MS Society for the help that it has given to me since my diagnosis and to thousands of other individuals and family members over the years.”
“<BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, research carried out by the MS Society shows that, while many are aware of the condition, around three quarters of respondents said that they know only a little or not much about how it affects people. That is despite nearly half of respondents personally knowing or having known someone who has lived with MS. That can add to misunderstandings and misconceptions about the condition. That is why this year's national theme is "MS conversations". It is about encouraging people to start conversations about their MS and to raise awareness. <BR /> <BR />When I was diagnosed, I was told that, once you have met someone living with MS, you have met one person living with MS. That demonstrates that, as a neurological condition, it affects everyone differently.”
“I rise as an MLA for East Belfast and someone living with multiple sclerosis (MS) to mark MS Awareness Week. MS affects over 5,000 people in Northern Ireland, and we continue to have one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. Despite that, access to neurology services remains limited, with many patients regularly facing delays in their diagnosis and, ultimately, treatment. I remember that, when I was diagnosed in 2013, I was kept in the hospital by my consultant not as a precaution but to speed up access to an MRI, because, had I been sent home, who knows when I would have received that crucial assessment of lesions on my brain?”
“Minister, I raised the issue with you on 30 April 2024. Why has nothing changed in almost a year?”
“It needs to start being taken seriously in the Department, because talking shops, working groups and presentations are not correcting the basic issues with our planning system. <BR /> <BR />Alliance believes that we need to see a fully resourced system; planners triaging applications and then being accountable to meeting deadlines from the date that the application was accepted; prioritisation of economic and green energy applications so that they do not get logjammed in the system for simply far too long; and empowerment of planners to actually take decisions rather than endlessly and repeatedly consulting and re-consulting. The time for talking is over, and the time to act is now.”
“When the planning statistics for the third quarter came out a few days ago, I did not have much hope, and I was not surprised when I saw that local applications take nearly five months to process and that major ones take closer to 10 months. My experience is that seeking basic road licence instructions has taken almost three years this month and is still ongoing. Report after report after report stack up saying the same things, but nothing seems to change. <BR /> <BR />I have said it before: the Infrastructure portfolio is not sexy and will not get headlines. However, it is fundamental to what we seek to achieve in the Programme for Government: build more homes, create more jobs and tackle the climate crisis.”
“<BR /> <BR />Businesses have told me personally, as I have said at the Committee, that if it was a choice between here, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, we would not win the battle to attract investment because we are simply taking too long in comparison with other places. <BR /> <BR />At the same time, housebuilders cannot even get a connection to waste water infrastructure because we have allowed Northern Ireland Water to get into the state that it is in due to our outdated approach to funding water infrastructure. We then react in shock, in this place, that underfunding it for years has led to there being human faeces in Belfast lough and on our roads, as shown in last year's 'Spotlight' programme.”
“That is holding back investment by local businesses, and will hold us back from meeting our climate targets through encouraging more investment in low-carbon electricity supply and developing EV charging infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />At the same time, as with everything that happens in Northern Ireland, the world keeps turning without us. The UK Government have made planning reform central to their growth agenda, with forecasts suggesting that proposals will deliver 170,000 homes by 2029-2030, and grow the economy by £6·5 billion through job creation and economic growth.”
“I rise to highlight major ongoing and systemic issues in the planning system, which I have raised repeatedly as a member of the Committee for Infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />When the Assembly, thankfully, returned last year, one of the first motions was on the planning system. Sadly, more than a year later, we are no further on, and it is three years since a 2022 Northern Ireland Audit Office report concluded that the planning system was:”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Minister, given the Labour Party's recent policy direction, have you had to make any changes to the anti-poverty strategy?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her response. The Department for Infrastructure was allocated the largest capital budget in the history of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Does she agree with my colleagues and me that the commission is needed and that the paper needs to be published urgently, given that the establishment of an infrastructure commission was first explored and proposed by a ministerial advisory panel five years ago, in 2020?”
“Minister, yesterday, you told my colleague that the funding model for Northern Ireland Water had been looked at time and again. In a recent response at the Committee, the permanent secretary told me that the reports on the funding model are publicly available, but, in this week's Committee pack, you have confirmed that they are internal documents, and you have provided hyperlinks to Research and Information Service (RaISe) papers from 2014 and 2020. Is your statement not further evidence that the funding model is not working? Will you commit to publishing those internal documents?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. It is encouraging to hear about how our prisons can play a key role in tackling climate change and in supporting our environment. Can the Minister expand a little bit on the tree nursery at Magilligan?”
“Does the Minister agree that the racist commentary on social media during the recent recruitment campaign was completely unacceptable?”
“Thankfully, yesterday's event took place peacefully, and the PSNI had a clear role in ensuring that. <BR /> <BR />Last week, I was fortunate to receive a tour of the PSNI's cybercrime unit, and I heard about the role that misinformation now plays in all our lives and how the PSNI polices cybercrime. It was also a timely visit, as I had recently watched 'Adolescence' on Netflix, which highlights the impact that social media now has on all our young people. Immigration does not pose a threat to us: misinformation and division do, and I am grateful to the PSNI for the role that it played yesterday afternoon.”
“I rise both as an MLA and a member of the Policing Board to put on record my sincere thanks to the officers of the PSNI for their professionalism and presence at yesterday's assemblies in Belfast city centre. <BR /> <BR />Last year, we saw violence on our streets, criminal damage, businesses trashed and fear across communities in Northern Ireland. I remember raising in the Chamber the concerns of my constituents and businesses who, at that time, saw and felt racism in the air. <BR /> <BR />In advance of yesterday's events, I spoke frequently with the PSNI to ensure that it was prepared, and I was assured that it was taking events seriously. Yesterday, I took time to observe and engage with the PSNI, and I saw officers manage large crowds calmly and professionally. That builds trust with communities and reassures them.”
“I thank the Minister for his response, and I listened keenly to his answers to questions earlier. Given the importance of our high streets, what cross-departmental engagement has taken place since the publication of the report?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I know that she attended the recent road safety awards and met Davy Jackson, who is a powerful advocate for road safety. As chair of the all-party group on road safety, I am keen to learn about the insights that the Minister gained from the presentation that she received. What learnings can be taken forward to improve road safety education here?”
“I urge the Minister to bring forward the engagement report, draft plan and consultation on the options for the north-west transport plan as soon as possible to ensure that we can move forward on delivering the sustainable transport networks that are key for a modern society.”
“I am aware of planning permission applicants who received overdue required amendments, who amended and resubmitted them on the same day, and who, as of now, are still waiting because attention has been diverted elsewhere or staff are too under-resourced to deliver basic permissions. <BR /> <BR />My understanding is that options for the remediation of the Mobuoy site will soon move to public consultation, which is a key step in the journey to secure that site. I know that the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister is keen to see that progress rapidly to benefit the progression and finalisation of the A6. <BR /> <BR />Introducing sustainable connections in and between towns and cities in the north-west is crucial.”
“We all know that spending on public transport in Northern Ireland is the lowest among the UK nations, at £193 a head, which is less than half the spend in England and Wales. It is for that reason that publication of the north-west transport plan could bring transformative change and benefits for the region and improve the quality of life for those living there. However, the plan must be backed by significant capital investment and strategic planning to ensure that it is delivered. Moreover, it must be resourced with appropriate numbers of staff to consult, review and deliver upon the plan, otherwise it will remain as links to images on a website. I say that as someone who has witnessed the delays taking place in DFI.”
“That is against the backdrop of the historical and chronic underinvestment, which Mr Durkan mentioned, that has restricted the growth of those networks to allow for sustainable transport choices.”
“As the Alliance infrastructure spokesperson, I welcome the motion. As someone with strong family links to Strabane, I also thank the Opposition for tabling it. <BR /> <BR />As we have heard, the north-west transport plan has the potential to support social and economic development and the environmental sustainability of the transport system in the north-west, opening up opportunities for connectivity and economic growth to better serve communities there. Good, well-thought-out plans for active travel, public transport and the associated infrastructure make life better and easier for the individuals and businesses based there.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and for taking the Glider to Stormont today. I welcome today's recommitment to delivering the full G2 extension to connect the Titanic Quarter in east Belfast, Belfast City Hospital and Queen's University. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you acknowledged that full funding for the scheme is not available at present. Officials told me similar at an Infrastructure Committee meeting last year. Can you confirm what the shortfall is now and how you are trying to reduce it?”
“Minister, do you agree that the report could inform how the Executive can target resources and interventions at an early stage in order to prevent further costs across public services down the line?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. What are the impacts of a rising prisoner population on each establishment?”
“One thing is certain: doing nothing is no longer an option.”
“For example, during an evidence session with Infrastructure officials last week, the Infrastructure Committee heard that the way in which the living with water programme is managed and delivered will be a matter for Northern Ireland Water to determine, as if the underfunding of that programme would not have a direct impact on those same projects. We go round and round, having the same conversation and expecting a new outcome and no ill effects. What measures is the new Minister willing to explore or provide to address the funding shortfall of the living with water programme in Belfast? <BR /> <BR />I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the matter to the Chamber. I look forward to hearing Members' contributions and the new Minister's thoughts on the matter, which is of significant importance to constituents in East Belfast.”