Recommendations following critical court judgment on road contracts due

Recommendations following a critical court judgment on how road contracts were awarded in Northern Ireland are due this week, the Stormont Infrastructure Minister has said.

The Court of Appeal ruled in April 2021 that the Department for Infrastructure took part in a “clandestine” process with one of the firms bidding for multi-million pound deals to resurface the region’s roads.

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir asked Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon in the Assembly on Monday if the outcome of an independent investigation into roads procurement would be reported before the Assembly is dissolved on Friday for fresh elections.

Ms Mallon described a “really important piece of work”, and revealed she planned to update the Assembly later this week after receiving the report.

“On June 15 I announced that I was establishing an independent investigation to ensure that the department and others learned from that court judgment,” she told MLAs.

“The investigation, which is being led by Sarah Hannaford QC has been completed and I expect to receive the report in coming days.

“My intention then is to ensure that this House is updated on the investigation’s findings and my commitment, as I have laid out to officials, is that we do so later this week.”

Pressed further by DUP MLA Stephen Dunne, Ms Mallon said she is very keen to receive the report.

“I haven’t received it as yet but at the time when I made the statement to the House I gave a commitment that I would report back to the House and I would update them on the findings of that investigation.

“I have also been very clear with my officials that we have one week potentially remaining in this mandate and therefore we need to ensure that my commitment to every member in this House is honoured and they are given that clear update.”

Acknowledging that it could be her last question time as Infrastructure Minister before the Assembly, Ms Mallon said she wanted to acknowledge the hard work of her officials.

“I have certainly pushed and pushed them and I want to paid tribute to their determination and their commitment to the people of Northern Ireland,” she said.