Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Andrew Muir MLA has welcomed the Executive’s commitment to establishing an Infrastructure Commission in the COVID-19 Recovery Plan.

Last year a Ministerial Advisory Panel established by Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon recommended the establishment of a commission, similar to a body which already exists in Scotland. It is designed to set a 30-year vision for infrastructure in Northern Ireland, while tracking the Executive’s progress against that vision. Following discussions between Executive Ministers, the establishment of an Infrastructure Commission was included in yesterday’s COVID-19 Recovery Action Plan.

“I have been pushing hard for the establishment of an Infrastructure Commission since I joined the Assembly Infrastructure Committee back in January 2020, and in light of Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee findings concerning serious issues encountered concerning delivery of major capital projects,” said North Down MLA Mr Muir.

“Infrastructure is at the heart of sustainable growth for Northern Ireland, and it is crucial we have a commission to set a long-term strategy. For that reason, Alliance included a recommendation to establish such a Commission in our recently published Green New Deal document and I am pleased the Executive has committed to the Infrastructure Commission as part of its COVID-19 Recovery Plan.

“We now need to see the details of when and how this commission will be established. While ideally the Commission should have a ring-fenced budget and statutory independence, the important thing now is to build on this momentum by getting the wheels in motion so the work of the Commission can get going.”