Debate contribution: Sinn Féin Billboards: Illegal Erection

Debate contribution by Mr John Stewart on 20 January 2026.

MLA: Mr John Stewart
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 20 January 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Sinn Féin Billboards: Illegal Erection
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5348759

Text

How does one follow that contribution from the Member? I appreciate, however, that he made some valid points. I welcome the new Member for Newry and Armagh to his place. I congratulate him on his maiden speech and pay tribute to his predecessor, who was a great ambassador for the constituency.
I agree with the Member opposite on one point at least. There are, undoubtedly, better things that we should be doing today, but I do not blame the proposer of the motion for tabling it. There is an easy resolution to the matter, and that is for the Minister and her party colleagues to get together to resolve to take down the illegal Sinn Féin billboards. If I may make a few points, this has been discussed at length at the Committee, it has gone through two Ministers and, still, there is no resolution. We could be dealing with other things, and it is deeply frustrating that we are dedicating any time to the matter when there is an easy resolution. Let me be clear. Those signs are illegal. They breach planning regulations and pose a risk to road safety, yet they are all still up, and they remain up because, quite simply, they are Sinn Féin boards and because the Minister agrees with the message. She could have taken action; she could have actioned enforcement, but, sadly, that has not been done. As other Members have said today, small businesses across our constituencies regularly pay the price for inadvertently breaching planning regulations. In my constituency, in Carrickfergus alone, one small business owner was threatened with a fine of £3,500, mainly because a sign slightly exceeded the signage limit on the building front in a conservation area. That is an example of someone trying to get by, doing their best, yet the Sinn Féin Minister who is in charge of planning regulations is allowing those illegally erected billboards to remain. It is simply unacceptable. Minister, that is happening on your watch and happened on that of your predecessor. You are responsible for ensuring that the law is applied fairly and consistently. It is simply not good enough to stand by while illegal signage remains in place because of its political affiliation. Every day that those boards remain in place, they pose a risk to drivers, pedestrians and communities. As other Members have said, there are serious questions to be asked around public liability insurance. Who is responsible? The Department? The billboards are on land that you are responsible for as Minister. Or are those who erected them responsible? It is a valid question. The second issue is around cost. Minister, you have already articulated in your response — or your party colleague did — and in your written ministerial statements that you have corresponded with those who erected the signs. I am interested to know who you are corresponding with and what that has cost the Department so far. Simply, as other Members have done today, Minister, I call on you to get this matter sorted. Use the powers that you have in your Department to remove that illegal signage, enforce planning regulations without fear or favour and show that the law applies to everyone, no matter who you are or what party you represent.

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

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