Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 1 July 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Dilapidation Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5061427
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I agree. The legislation will have teeth, and we need to make sure that the councils apply it so that there is a deterrent effect when it comes to people allowing buildings to get into a dilapidated state. There is localism in Northern Ireland, in that district councils can decide what way they are going forward on the issue. For example, two councils have not signed up to the fly-tipping protocol in Northern Ireland. I have written to those councils to ask them to sign up to that, but we all need to work together on it. People can shape local solutions to the issues. Ultimately, if we pass the legislation, as, I hope, we will, which will be a good moment for the Assembly, it will be for district councils to show that they will use the powers to provide a deterrent and not allow those things to happen. We are all proud to be public representatives. We stand for election to serve the people, and it is really gut-wrenching to see certain parts of our villages, towns and cities allowed to slide into decay. We want areas that we were once proud of not to be like that, and, hopefully, the legislation will provide the power to turn the situation around. It has been a long time coming, but it is here now. If the Bill passes Second Stage, I will seek, as will officials, to work with the Committee at the Committee Stage of scrutiny on any concerns that it has. My commitment to dealing with dilapidation in local neighbourhoods and to working with other Departments is significant. I have heard particular concerns, and I want to take those forward. I will have those discussions with you, John, about the specific issues that you raised about Carrickfergus. Hopefully, we can move forward constructively. This is what the Assembly is about. Legislation is the meat of the Assembly, and I am glad that we are moving forward with it.
331 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.81).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.81 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.98 |
| Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty | 0.01 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:58 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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