Minister quizzed over impact of climate change laws on road safety plans

Stormont’s Infrastructure Minister has faced questions on the implications of climate change legislation for road safety upgrades across Northern Ireland.

Liz Kimmins was also quizzed in the Assembly on whether she would consider introducing emergency legislation to amend the Climate Change Act 2022 to exempt road safety schemes which would save lives.

Ms Kimmins appeared at ministerial question time just hours after a High Court judge in Belfast quashed a decision by the Executive to proceed with the £1.2 billion A5 road upgrade.

There have been more than 50 deaths on the A5, which links Londonderry with Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone, since 2006.

Mr Justice McAlinden said the proposed road upgrade scheme breached a section of the Climate Change Act, which sets a target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

DUP MLA Trevor Clarke told the Assembly there had been “warm words” from the Sinn Fein minister about road safety.

He then added: “Today’s court judgment has ruled that your party and others, in terms of their support for the climate change policy, has had a major impact on that.

“How do you judge that impact today will affect your work going forward to try and improve road safety in other areas of rural Northern Ireland in terms of those road upgrades?”

Ms Kimmins said it was “not a day to be point scoring”.

She said: “I have to take time to consider the detail of that ruling, what the implications will be.

“But let me say this, I am committed we will get the A5 delivered, we will protect lives and ensure that no more lives are lost on that road.”

SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said all MLAs shared “disappointment and frustration” over the court ruling.

He added: “That will pale in comparison to the devastation felt by the many families who have lost loved ones along this route and who have led the campaign for change.

“Can the minister advise the Assembly on her immediate response to the decision, what implications it has for the future of this Executive flagship project and how her department intends to address the concerns raised by the court?”

Ms Kimmins said it would take time for her and her officials to go through all the detail of the judgment and study the implications.

She added: “This road needs to be built, we cannot allow any more lives to be lost. I am determined we do find a solution and we do find a way forward.”

Mr Durkan responded: “Will the minister, along with her Executive colleagues, prepare emergency amending legislation to clarify the relevant section or sections of the Climate Change Act, an Act that in its entirety was voted through by all in this House, preserving its core purpose but clarifying that it cannot be used to block action necessary to save life.

“Or has she another plan B?”

The minister said: “We need to act in the immediacy but it is important we do this very, very thoroughly.

“This is very detailed decision, implications that we don’t know at this stage.

“I think it would be remiss of me saying I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that without considering that in great detail.

“I will be engaging with my legal team and officials on that in a very thorough matter.

“This is the third time there has been a legal challenge in relation to this road.

“Families are tired, families want to see this built. That is my priority.”