Stormont department discussed 'using BBC platforms' - but timing of major announcement coincidence - officials
Stormont’s infrastructure department had discussions with the BBC to “use its various channels and platforms” to highlight road safety – and a major policy announcement on driver licensing “coincided with this”, officials have said.
The corporation reported this week that the Sinn Fein minister’s plans came “as part of a day of coverage” on the impact of road deaths – prompting questions about why they were announced to the media before the Assembly. Concerns have also been raised about whether the BBC and Stormont co-ordinated the announcement.
Neither the BBC nor the infrastructure ministry have directly answered questions about whether there was co-ordination – something which would be highly unusual for the public service broadcaster.
The BBC said the department was aware of its plans for a day of special coverage, and it reported the minister’s announcement “on the basis of its news value and significance”.
Now, the department has responded to questions from the News Letter on the matter, saying that the announcement of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) scheme “coincided” with the corporation’s output, after discussions about using its “various channels and platforms” to highlight road safety.
Reacting to the comments, UUP MLA Steve Aiken said the responses “did seem to indicate that, yes, they coordinated” – speculating that it is perhaps “a new approach” from the BBC, “and they’ll brief ministers on their ‘specials’ and the departments can launch announcements to coincide”.
Asked directly whether it co-ordinated coverage on the announcement with the BBC's day of road safety coverage, a Department of Infrastructure spokesperson said: “The Minister has been very clear of her commitment to… GDL as an important road safety development and of her intention to announce its introduction in early 2026. The measures GDL seeks to implement have been previously debated and passed by the Assembly and the intention to introduce GDL was included in the Road Safety Action Plan, which delivers the Executive’s agreed Road Safety Strategy.
“Road Safety, and the trauma caused by deaths on our roads, is an issue for all of us as a society. The Department has been in discussions with the BBC as a public service broadcaster about plans to focus on a range of road safety issues and to use its various channels and platforms to highlight the importance of being safe on our roads throughout a full day of dedicated coverage.
“As a major road safety initiative aimed at saving lives by reducing the number of fatal and serious road traffic collisions involving new and young drivers, the announcement on GDL coincided with this date. An accompanying press release was issued under embargo to all media outlets the afternoon before the announcement.”
On Tuesday, Stormont’s Speaker Edwin Poots criticised the minister for making the announcement to the media before the Assembly.
“It seems a substantial discourtesy to the Assembly and a significant breach of the normal conventions and expectations that there has been no request from the minister to make a statement”, Edwin Poots told the chamber.
Mr Aiken, who also sits as a deputy speaker, said the minister’s actions were a “deliberate act of undermining” the assembly – and commented that the timing of the announcement to match the BBC special coverage “seems more than coincidental”.
The South Antrim MLA has now requested that “in the interests of good governance and openness and accountability”, Ms Kimmins publish all of her department’s correspondence with the BBC.
Earlier this week, the News Letter asked the BBC if it was made aware of the minister's plans in advance of a press release to other media outlets on Monday - and whether the announcement co-ordinated with the Stormont department.
A spokesperson said road safety “is an issue of significant public interest” – and that its coverage was “developed over several months with input from victims, first responders and relevant agencies.
“The Department, like others, was aware of our plans. Its announcement has been reported by us on the basis of its news value and significance.”