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Good morning John

This week’s ruling on the A5 road project is a hammer blow to road safety campaigners, local communities, and every family that has lost a loved one on that dangerous stretch of road. It also leaves local farmers and landowners in limbo, uncertain as to what happens next.

The decision by Mr Justice McAlinden to halt the scheme on the basis of climate targets didn’t happen by accident. It was the direct consequence of political choices made by some parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

When the Climate Change Act passed, the DUP warned that chasing Net Zero by 2050 was not just unrealistic but damaging. Edwin Poots, as DAERA Minister, put forward a deliverable 82% carbon emissions reduction target. But Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP, full of self-righteousness and grandstanding, insisted this was not enough. They forced through legally binding targets that ignored our warnings.

Now we see the result.

The same politicians who helped draft these laws are now clutching their pearls in apparent dismay. The brass neck of it would be laughable if it were not so serious.

This is no longer just about the A5. What of the Enniskillen bypass? What of Ballynahinch? The Regional Children’s Hospital? New school builds? Sporting infrastructure? Mr Justice McAlinden’s judgment was clear: if the A5 is to go ahead, other infrastructure projects may need to go by the wayside.

That is why the DUP is acting. My colleague, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, has written to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, calling on him to urgently bring forward amendments to the current legislation. In his letter, Gordon makes crystal clear the course of action we demand of the Minister:

“As Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, we are calling on you to bring forward proposals to amend current legislation to incorporate emissions targets that are realistic, deliverable and which do not unduly constrain delivery of this Executive’s flagship projects and investment strategies. Furthermore, given the High Court’s commentary on the draft Climate Action Plan and provision of evidence with respect to the impacts of the A5, we would encourage you to use the public consultation period to reflect on the changes that will need to be made to ensure we are not restricting the ability of the Executive to deliver on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland.”

The Executive cannot be tied in knots by laws so rigid that they undermine public investment and public safety.

There is still time for Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP to face up to what they’ve done and work with us to fix it. If they are serious about infrastructure, safety and developing Northern Ireland, then they must undo the damage they caused.

We warned this would happen. They didn’t listen. They cannot now walk away from the consequences.

It’s time for those who created this crisis to stand up, admit their mistake, and help deliver practical, deliverable climate policy that doesn’t paralyse progress in Northern Ireland.

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Hon. Gavin Robinson MP

DUP Leader


** Community Infrastructure Fund launched
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DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced £4m for the Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund. The fund will be open to range of community facilities, such as church halls, Orange Halls, Sports clubs and other community venues.

Funding can be used for repairs, heating upgrades, disability access improvements and internal refurbishments.


** Food and fun in the sun at DUP BBQ
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** Weekly review with Cllr. Matthew Magill
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