URGENT UPDATE: Stormont ministers are facing serious accusations of obstructing vital oversight on the controversial A5 road project, which has seen over 50 deaths since 2006. Infrastructure Committee chairman Peter Martin has publicly expressed frustration that both Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Environment Minister Andrew Muir have failed to respond to critical correspondence regarding the court judgment impacting the project.
The A5, which connects Londonderry with Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone, has been under scrutiny following a £1.2 billion legal ruling by Justice McAlinden. Earlier this year, the judge quashed the Stormont Executive’s approval of the project, citing violations of Northern Ireland’s Climate Change Act and the failure to demonstrate compliance with net-zero carbon emissions commitments by 2050.
Speaking at a recent meeting, Martin highlighted that his committee sent inquiries to both ministers over two weeks ago, seeking clarification on their departments’ involvement in the court ruling. He stated, “We simply haven’t had anything back from them. It is our job to scrutinize the working together of Daera and DfI in the run-up to the judgment being made, and we don’t seem to be able to do that.”
The lack of engagement from Kimmins and Muir has left the committee unable to fulfill its duties effectively, raising concerns among members. Martin emphasized his disappointment, saying, “This committee is being hampered in its scrutiny work by two ministers who won’t engage with it.”
Justin McNulty, another committee member from the SDLP, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of transparency in the decision-making process surrounding the A5 project. He remarked, “What is going on?” underscoring the urgency of addressing the ministers’ silence.
The committee is now at a critical juncture, with Martin pledging to pursue answers weekly until a resolution is reached. He dismissed the ministers’ claims that the matter is sub judice, arguing that the judgment is already public and the appeal does not prevent inquiry into its implications.
“This is about a judgment in the public domain and the reasons why the initial decision was made,” Martin asserted. “I raise this every week until we have some solution around it.”
As developments unfold, the committee’s ability to investigate the A5 project hinges on the ministers’ responses. If transparency is not achieved soon, the future of this essential infrastructure project—and the safety of the communities it serves—remains uncertain.
Stay tuned for further updates on this unfolding story and its potential impact on the A5 road project and the residents of Northern Ireland.
