Debate contribution: Roads: A1 Junctions Phase 2

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 24 March 2026.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

24 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Roads: A1 Junctions Phase 2

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5463965

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I thank Eóin Tennyson for securing this important debate. This issue is of the utmost importance to me. I have personally campaigned on it as a constituency MLA. I travel the A1 road every day. I have met and know families who have been affected, and I know Monica very well. This is not just another debate; it is on an issue that I hold very dear. I do not want to be in this position. If there were a simple solution, as Members here tonight seem to think that there is, we would not be having the debate. I recognise the strength of feeling, locally and across the North, about the A1 scheme. There are strong similarities to the situation with the A5 in the rationale for wanting to see the A1 upgraded. I was proud that my colleague John O'Dowd took the definitive action and the decision to proceed with the A1 project and get it moving after years upon years of waiting. That is how important it is to all of us. As Members have said, the concerns of residents, businesses and those who use the A1 regularly are well understood but no more so than by those who have been impacted on by the loss of a loved one along it. As a constituency MLA, I took part in the public inquiry, because I recognised that that was another important step in getting the road built and addressing all the issues that have been articulated here this evening. I am acutely aware of the level of Assembly interest in and scrutiny of the issue, including the questions on the legal and environmental robustness of major road schemes. I am determined that lessons are learned so that projects can progress on a sound footing and be delivered with confidence. I am clear that the A1 is one of the most strategically important transport corridors on the island. It is a key part of the eastern seaboard corridor; it provides a vital link between Belfast and Dublin; and, as Members have said, it carries a significant volume of traffic every day, including commuters, freight and those making cross-border journeys.

With that level of use comes a responsibility to ensure that this corridor is as safe as possible for everyone who relies on it. The A1 phase 2 scheme has been developed to address those long-standing safety concerns at the key junctions, including the closing of approximately 100 gaps in the central median along the 25-kilometre stretch where the risk of collision has been well established. Barely a week goes by when there is not a near miss, and many of them have been close to me. It is very evident for all to see just how crucial this is. Improving safety, reducing those conflict points and providing a safer environment for all road users remain the central objectives of the scheme, and I reaffirm that the project continues to be regarded as a priority in my Department's major roads programme and something that I have factored in for the next three years in the hope that we get a multi-year Budget as that also will be critical to the delivery of the scheme.

I want to make some progress. At the heart of the issue is road safety. That is of the utmost importance to me because behind every one of those statistics is a person. There is a family and a community whose lives have been changed forever. Every single death on our roads is one too many, and reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured remains one of my foremost priorities. I pay tribute to the long-standing efforts of Monica Heaney and the other campaigners who have not only stood up for everyone in our communities but turned their grief and their loss into something that will protect others. I visited New-Bridge Integrated College last year and gave it my commitment that the project will go ahead as planned. We were well on track and confident that we would see it proceed in the spring of this year. Many of the other voices that we have heard strongly advocating for the scheme have been shaped by personal loss or serious injury, and I have great admiration for the courage and determination that it takes to continue standing up for change in the face of such tragedy. My focus on safety reflects the serious collision history on that stretch of the A1, and it has been highlighted repeatedly in my responses to Assembly questions. That evidence underpins the case for a comprehensive scheme that delivers lasting safety improvements rather than short-term or piecemeal interventions. As Members have mentioned, all the major infrastructure projects that are currently within my remit have had to be considered in light of the A5 judgement. Whilst we might have different views on how that can be interpreted, it is important that we allow appropriate time for the completion of the legal proceedings. The Member for Upper Bann asked me specific questions about the appeal and the recent comments of the judge. It would be inappropriate for me to comment until those proceedings conclude as I want to ensure that we fulfil the most robust case that we can to have the best chance of winning the appeal. It is of the utmost importance.

I am working very closely with the Member's colleague the DAERA Minister because we feel extremely strongly about that. The Assembly agreed the climate change legislation, and we were of the strong opinion that we had fulfilled our responsibilities under that. I consider it prudent to reflect on any lessons learned from other major road schemes to avoid further legal challenge, of which there is a significant risk, and further delay and financial risk. As Members know, capital resources are limited, and every pound spent on avoidable legal costs is a pound that cannot be invested in improving safety or delivering infrastructure on the ground. Legal challenge carries a real cost, not only in delay but in the diversion of public funds away from delivery and safety improvements, so taking the time to get the approach right is the most responsible way to ensure the fastest delivery of the scheme. I recognise that there have also been calls to progress individual elements of the scheme. However, when the project was developed and announced by John O'Dowd in his role as Infrastructure Minister, it was done as a single coherent package to provide that clarity and certainty and a comprehensive, deliverable solution to long-standing safety concerns. All here will agree that, because of its importance, we want to see it delivered in one go, as far as possible, rather than in bits and pieces. I continue to be fully supportive of that approach. Delivering the scheme as a single package remains the preferred way forward, subject to the necessary legal considerations being addressed.

The scheme is a mature and well-developed project. It has completed the statutory process, including public inquiry and the making of the necessary statutory orders, with only the vesting order process remaining to be made prior to construction, and it has an approved outline business case. Following the decision in July 2024 to proceed, the scheme moved into procurement phase, with preparatory procurement activity already undertaken, including the pre-qualification questionnaires in February 2025 and publication of the restricted list of tenderers in May 2025. Let me be very clear: I can say with hand on heart that, in everything that I have done to date in my role as Minister, the decision to slow things down as a result of the judgement, particularly in relation to the A1 because it is something that is close to me, was probably the most difficult decision that I have ever had to take. I know that this is so important, but I also know that I have to face the people who have lost someone, and I have to explain to them. As John rightly said, in Civil Service terms that means nothing to you if you have lost your loved one, because there is no price that you can put on a life.

I appreciate that. Thank you, a LeasCheann Comhairle.

What I said in the House in the aftermath of the original ruling was that I was also focused on ensuring that we had a contingency plan in the event, because we do not know what happens once we go into a courtroom. No one knows, and it is down to interpretation. That was the first test of the climate change legislation. I remain confident that we can deliver the most robust case. In the event that we do have an unsuccessful outcome, however, I remain committed to ensuring that we find the solutions, and I will continue to do that. What those solutions may be is not something that I will get into at this stage, because we have to work through the process, but we cannot sit on our hands. We are seeing the real impact of that. As I said, I agonised over the decision and worked with officials to find another way. I had to be honest about the reality, and taking the risk, which, I feel, is significant, of legal challenge is just something that we should not do. Not only would that be irresponsible with regard to public money and ending up in court again, but it could add further delays to the project and lead us further down the line, whereas, if we get a successful outcome on the A5, we can move at pace.

If Mr Deputy Speaker permits.

That is something that I have discussed with officials. I know that some interim safety measures have been done in recent years. It is my understanding that that is the maximum that can be done without having to do the upgrades that have been approved in the scheme. We continually review that and on the A5 as well. If there was a way, we would not be standing here. We also have to take that into consideration with all the other schemes that were mentioned and that are in various stages of progress but are in a similar scenario. The most responsible, albeit the most difficult, decision to take was to await the outcome. I hope that that moves at pace, but, as I said, we are back at the Court of Appeal, and the outcome remains to be seen. I emphasise strongly, however, that my officials, officials from DAERA and our two legal teams are working incredibly hard to ensure that we deliver the most robust and strongest case possible. My priority was ensuring that this important project was not lost, reset or weakened during this uncertain period, and nor do I want to acquire any unnecessary delay or cost. Therefore, extending the restricted list, as John said, ensures that the scheme remains in a position to move forward as soon as we can do that. We are ready to go as soon as we have a green light. It gives officials the flexibility to move into the tender stage at any time during the extension. In closing, I want to be clear about my intent. My commitment to the delivery of the A1 junctions phase 2 scheme is solid. I am equally committed to ensuring that it is delivered in a way that is safe and legally robust. Road safety remains my top priority. My determination to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads is unwavering, and I will continue to do all that I can not just in physical infrastructure projects but in everything that we do, so that we continually reduce those road deaths. Work continues in the Department to progress the scheme appropriately with a focus on reducing risk and ultimately improving safety for everyone who uses the A1. I will continue to work to ensure that schemes such as the A1 are delivered in a way that stands the test of time and delivers real benefits for the public. I respect fully the independence of the courts and the need for the legal process to conclude. However, it is also important to recognise that the ongoing appeal has wider implications for the delivery of major road schemes. A positive and clear resolution would provide the certainty needed for projects such as the A1. I thank Members for giving me the opportunity to, hopefully, give clarity as to why we are where we are. Whilst I appreciate the remarks about my sincerity, it is not about me: it is about the families, the people and those in the future who will use that road daily. I hope that we can remain united in our efforts to deliver the scheme and that that will be done sooner rather than later.

2,153 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:16 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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