Minister accused of ‘avoiding scrutiny’ with driving rules announcement

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has been accused of attempting to “avoid scrutiny” by announcing plans for additional restrictions for new drivers to the media before the Stormont chamber.

A number of MLAs and Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots raised the timing of the update ahead of an urgent question on graduated driver licensing (GDL) in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The proposals to bring in GDL in October have been described by Ms Kimmins as the “most significant reform to driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years”.

Mr Poots has previously said it is “significantly important” that ministers bring statements to the assembly floor in Stormont.

He told MLAs on Tuesday: “I would say to the House, this House is here to scrutinise ministers and departments who are appointed by this House, and I don’t care of what ilk or what political party that they represent, I, as Speaker of this House, will ensure that it has the scrutiny capacity.

“So ministers, if they wish to make announcements outside of the House, they shouldn’t be doing it but I’ll make sure that they come to the House.”

Peter Martin, chairman of the infrastructure committee, said Ms Kimmins had referred to the change as “the biggest ever change to driver tests and licensing” which he said he “cautiously welcomed” on principle.

The DUP MLA for North Down said: “Minster, you failed to cite the committee on any of your proposals that you were bringing to the media today.

“You certainly didn’t mention it to me as chair or to the deputy chair, you didn’t even bring it to this place.

“I think it’s appalling, I think it smacks of not caring about scrutiny.

“Minister I have to ask you, what you have done today, is it to avoid scrutiny of this policy which is generic, or is it that you just don’t care to follow these procedures?”

Ms Kimmins said legislation on GDL was agreed and passed by the assembly in 2016.

She also highlighted that she had appeared to the infrastructure committee in June 2025, before Mr Martin was chairman and informed that she would be introducing the GDL programme.

She said: “It is a matter of record that I wish to see GDL introduced as soon as possible, and that my department has been progressing the operational planning and subordinate legislation changes that are required before GDL can be implemented.

“I’ve also responded to a number of written questions about GDL from MLAs, including members of the committee, and in each of those answers, I made it clear that I would shortly announce the implementation date of GDL, which I did today.

“Of course, the Infrastructure Committee has an important role in the scrutiny of the draft subordinate legislation that is required to underpin the primary provisions, and I look forward to engagement on that draft legislation, which I expect will be sent to the Infrastructure Committee for scrutiny in February 2026.”

DUP MLA Brian Kingston (Belfast North) asked if the minister was “aware that this was going to be announced on the BBC Breakfast News this morning or were we or were you somewhat taken by surprise, like the rest of us?”

Ms Kimmins replied: “Obviously, as I’ve done an interview with the BBC, I knew it was going to be on the news this morning.”

SDLP leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole said the introduction of GDL is a “good, sensible measure” but that “it’s taken a long time”.

“You said that the two periods have collapsed. We litigate them almost by sin, failed by the DUP.

“But do you agree that taking this long to implement something that’s life saving underlines that we need to fundamentally reform and change how this place works?” he asked.

“Because we can’t be in a situation where important, vital life saving legislation takes a decade to implement because this assembly isn’t even here.”

Ms Kimmins said it was “regrettable” it had taken so long, adding: “I think it’s… challenging in public sector for lots of things to move quicker, because we’ve so many hoops to jump through, and we have to make sure that we have all our T’s crossed, our eyes dotted, I would have loved to seen this in place long before now.”

GDL permits learner drivers to drive on a motorway as long as they are accompanied by a driving instructor.

Once the learner passes their test, they will be issued with the new R plate which also allows them to drive on a motorway, where they can drive up to the speed limit.

In 2025, 56 people were killed in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland.