Debate contribution: Sinn Féin Billboards: Illegal Erection

Debate contribution by Mr Justin McNulty on 20 January 2026.

MLA

Mr Justin McNulty

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

20 January 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Sinn Féin Billboards: Illegal Erection

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5348757

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I came to speak on the motion wondering, "Is this for real, or are we in the twilight zone?". I could approach the unbelievable reality from a position of righteous indignation — I would be justified in doing so — but it feels more like an episode of 'D'Unbelievables', because it is just that: unbelievable. I begin by unequivocally affirming my dedication to building a united Ireland for all — here, lads, it will take more than a billboard at the border to unite the island — and to speaking out against genocide in Palestine. Some of the messages on the illegal Sinn Féin billboards that the motion targets are not ones with which I disagree. I take issue, however, with illegal and potentially dangerous constructions that ignore the law and enforcement correspondence from a Department. By constructing and refusing to take down its illegal Egyptian Arch billboard, Sinn Féin demonstrates that it is willing to break the law and to continue to break the law with impunity. You cannot be doing that, lads. Why did Sinn Féin blank out the display on its illegal billboard during the Irish general election? The Committee for Infrastructure, of which I am a member, has written to the Minister with several questions about Sinn Féin's illegal billboard at the Egyptian Arch. What permissions were sought from Translink in advance of constructing the illegal Sinn Féin billboard on Department for Infrastructure property within 50 metres of the main railway line on the island? What are the safety implications of that construction without the appropriate permission and of that same illegal Sinn Féin billboard's remaining in situ near a busy road junction and railway line? You cannot be doing that, lads. Who in Sinn Féin in Newry and Armagh received the enforcement correspondence from the Department seeking the removal of the illegal Sinn Féin billboard? Was it the Minister, who is responsible for that enforcement? The Minister has refused to answer the question, making one wonder who is in charge. Is the Minister answerable to the Committee for Infrastructure and the Assembly, or does she take orders from someplace else? You cannot be doing that, lads. We asked the Minister what plans there are to remove the illegal Sinn Féin billboard. The Department has no plans to remove the illegal Sinn Féin billboard, and there are certainly no plans from Sinn Féin to remove its illegal billboard. You cannot be doing that, lads. The Minister was asked how her Department had evaluated the billboard as being of low risk to public safety. She said that no formal assessment had been completed on the safety of the illegal Sinn Féin billboard. We are supposed to trust in the alleged safety of an illegally constructed billboard that has been built on a busy road junction beside a protected structure that is within 50 metres of the main railway line on the island on the basis of no evidence. There has been no formal assessment whatsoever. That is not how vital departmental decisions that impact on the safety of road and rail users should be made. You cannot be doing that, lads. The Committee also asked who would be responsible in the event of the catastrophic failure of the illegal Sinn Féin billboard. Would it be the Department or Sinn Féin corporate? You cannot be doing that, lads. The non-responses that we received from the Minister completely sidestepped the vital issues of justice and safety and show contempt for and disrespect to the Committee for Infrastructure, the Assembly and the rule of law. You cannot be doing that, lads. The lead party of government cannot impose its agenda irrespective of how it affects the whole democratic process. It is not unreasonable for people and communities to want to see parties and Ministers in charge abiding by and implementing the rule of law. The double standards and the precedent implications of the lead party of government's refusal to remove its illegal billboard are far-reaching, especially when you think about wee Mary, who is trying to put an extension on her house for her disabled son but has to jump through planning process and building control hoops; about Johnny in south Armagh, who cannot put an extension on his shed to grow his business because of planning enforcement; and about businesses in Newry that cannot put a wee sign on their shop because of overzealous planning enforcement. It is an uneven playing field. That is not how things should be. It undermines the credibility of political leaders. You cannot be doing that, lads. South Armagh already has Sinn Féin corriboards of 6 feet by 4 feet in every gap in a hedge and at every road junction in every village and town in every community. They are littering our beautiful villages and towns and our wonderful countryside. You cannot be doing that, lads. I urge the Minister for Infrastructure and her Department to take seriously the issue of illegally erected Sinn Féin billboards. Such constructions have the potential to cause serious damage, and the appearance of giving leeway to one's own party to break the law has no place in a democracy. You cannot be doing that, lads.

868 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:15 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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