Debate contribution: Illegal Billboards in Newry

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 16 February 2026.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

16 February 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Questions for Urgent Oral Answer

Heading

Illegal Billboards in Newry

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5391707

Read the official Assembly record

Text

The billboard that was adjacent to the Egyptian Arch was mounted on five posts, some of which appeared to be situated on my Department's land. The other posts were on privately owned land. The unauthorised erection of advertising signs within the boundaries of the public road is an offence under article 87 of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993. That article gives my Department discretionary powers to seek to have an advertisement removed or to remove it if considered necessary. Given my Department's ongoing resource limitations, priority is given to the removal of advertising where there is a clear road safety risk. When assessing the risks associated with billboards, the Department evaluates various factors related to road safety, including potential obstructions to vehicles and pedestrians, impairment of sight lines and the likelihood of an errant vehicle colliding with the structure. In cases where unauthorised signage presents a clear safety hazard, its removal will be prioritised. However, when no immediate danger is identified, officials will collaborate closely with key stakeholders to determine an appropriate resolution. Hoardings are typically subject to a planning application, and any breaches of planning regulations are generally addressed under planning legislation, which, in most cases, falls within the jurisdiction of the relevant council. The billboard was considered to pose a low risk to road safety, because it is set back from the road on an embankment. It did not obstruct sight lines and was within a 30 mph speed limit zone. The Department holds no information about the ownership of the billboard; however, officials were aware that posters displaying the Sinn Féin party logo had been displayed on the billboard in the past as well as on other billboards. As the Member is aware, my Department wrote to some Sinn Féin elected representatives in Newry about the removal of unauthorised advertisements. It was routine operational correspondence that was undertaken by my officials; as my Department's remit is extensive and a large volume of correspondence is issued and received daily, I did not issue it myself. It is my understanding that, after the letters were sent, the billboard was removed. Another billboard was erected that is not a Sinn Féin billboard, and I understand that there is currently no billboard at the Egyptian Arch. In respect of the Member's question, therefore, I have not declared a conflict of interest, as it was an operational matter that was dealt with by officials in line with their discretionary powers and in an impartial manner.

Absolutely not. If the Member had got his timeline correct, he would know that, when we had that debate, there was no Sinn Féin billboard in place. He knows that.

That is a fact. The correspondence that he mentioned was sent by departmental officials in November. As I said in my answer, the billboard that was there at the time was subsequently removed.

Absolutely. I allow all Members to have their say, so I think that it is rude for people to try to shout over someone. As I said in the debate that we had on the issue previously, the people out there want us to deliver on the issues that are important to them, and that is what I intend to do. We are having a debate today on the condition of our roads, and I am outlining the work that I have been doing to deliver for people. I will continue to focus on issues that are important to people.

As I stated in my previous answer, the two emails from November 2025 were sent to two of my party colleagues, who are elected representatives, in their capacity as elected representatives. They were sent by departmental officials in the local section office. Any correspondence that was sent in 2023 was sent at a time when the Assembly was down, so I was not the Minister. Indeed, no Minister was in place. I therefore cannot speak to that or to any discussions that happened, because I was not involved in those discussions, if there were any. It is impossible for me to answer a question to which I do not know the answer.

As I have said, although I have not been down there in the past few days, my understanding is that no billboard is in place at the minute. I think, however, that the issue has highlighted the fact that there is a need for proper discussion to be had about regulation, because we have seen that that is an issue across the board, be it with advertising, flags or all the other things about which we have regular debates.

I am not interested in getting into rows about flags, emblems and

—

— all of that, but this issue has highlighted the need for a proper discussion to be had about regulation and how to deal with such matters appropriately.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:56 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification