Second Stage of the Harbours Bill debated in Assembly
Harbour Bill will enable Ports at Foyle, Coleraine, Belfast and Warrenpoint to operate more efficiently.
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has led the debate at the Second Stage of the Harbours Bill as it makes its way through the Assembly.
Minister Kimmins outlined the main intention of the Bill was to enable the Ports at Foyle, Coleraine, Belfast and Warrenpoint to operate more efficiently and to help them strengthen their contribution to the regional economy.
Speaking in the Assembly debate the Minister said: “This Bill is the first step in implementing updates arising from a comprehensive review of Trust Ports. That review identified a number of challenges faced by my Department, Trust Ports and harbour authorities. It represents a measured and balanced package of reforms designed to modernise our ports, strengthen their independence, and unlock their full commercial potential – while retaining appropriate safeguards in the public interest.
“Taken as a whole, this Bill delivers on three key objectives. It enhances the independence of Trust Ports by removing outdated controls that are no longer appropriate. Second, it supports ONS reclassification, ensuring that the governance framework reflects the true nature of the Ports. And third, it empowers our ports commercially, equipping them with the tools they need to compete, grow, and contribute to the regional economy.”
The Bill will be supported in part by subordinate legislation, specifically four Harbour Orders covering the ports of Derry, Coleraine, Belfast and Warrenpoint.
These will provide ports with further enhanced independence and commercial powers, while ensuring that activities remain aligned with port-related objectives and protect the long-term financial sustainability of each port.
The Assembly’s Committee for Infrastructure has subsequently launched a Call for Evidence on the Harbours Bill.
It is inviting stakeholders and members of the public to share their views.
The Bill, introduced by the Minister for Infrastructure on 15 June 2026, completed its Second Stage on 23 June 2026 and has now been referred to the Committee for detailed scrutiny at Committee Stage.
The primary aim of the Harbours Bill is to modernise the legislative and governance framework for Northern Ireland’s Trust Ports.
The proposed changes are intended to support these autonomous statutory bodies to operate more efficiently, enhance their contribution to the regional economy, and address governance considerations arising from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of Trust Ports, particularly in relation to borrowing and its interaction with departmental capital budgets.
As part of the Assembly’s legislative process, the Committee is responsible for examining the provisions of the Bill and gathering evidence to inform its report to the Assembly.
The Committee is seeking views on:- The objectives of the Bill; The detailed provisions within the Bill; and The potential impacts and consequences of the proposals.
Any suggested amendmentsThe Committee encourages respondents to structure their submissions with reference to specific clauses and schedules within the Bill.The closing date for submissions is September 2, 2026.