Debate contribution: A5: Court of Appeal Judgement and Construction
Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on .
- MLA
- Ms Liz Kimmins
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 13 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- A5: Court of Appeal Judgement and Construction
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5789912
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I am absolutely delighted with the Court of Appeal's judgement last week. It represents a significant milestone for that vital road safety and infrastructure project. The judgement provided legal clarity and vindicates my Department's position throughout that it complied with the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2022, despite others' efforts to take away from that. We were confident in our position at all stages. The judgement was a very welcome outcome, and it provided the certainty needed not only for the A5 but for the delivery of major infrastructure projects across the North. My officials are working at pace to ensure that construction on the A5 can begin as soon as possible. That will involve completing the remaining checks and approvals as well as getting agreement on costs with the current contractors. Whilst I cannot provide a definitive commencement date until all those steps have been completed, I remain fully committed to progressing the scheme as quickly as possible. Once received, it will be important to consider the Court of Appeal's judgement in detail. The decision appears to provide welcome clarity to enable us to move forward on other major roads projects. In anticipation of that, I have asked officials to bring forward proposals as a matter of priority so that effective road schemes can progress at pace, helping us to deliver safer roads, better connections and greater economic opportunities for communities across the North.
236 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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