I hope that all of you had a very happy, healthy and safe holiday period and I hope that this coming year of 2026 brings you health, happiness and success.
As we start this new year I feel we have to take a long hard look at the performance of our elected politicians and critically scrutinise their delivery. The 2025 period for the Northern Ireland Executive can be characterised as one of stabilisation and cautious optimism, but limited tangible progress. On one hand, macro-economic indicators offer some good news: growth is positive, and the Executive now has the fiscal resources and a new strategic framework. On the other hand, for many people living in Northern Ireland, day-to-day life remains tough: health services, housing, poverty, and long-term infrastructure remain under-resolved, and the momentum for fundamental reform is weak.
In effect, the Executive’s annual report could be summarised as “long on strategies and announcements, short on delivery.”
CRUCIAL YEARS AHEAD
The next few years (2026 – 2027) will be crucial: the success of the Programme for Government will depend on whether ministers can turn plans into action, invest for the long-term, and prioritise reforms that improve outcomes for ordinary people rather than just ticking policy boxes. With the prospect of new longer three-year resource budget and four-year capital budgets one would expect better financial planning and delivery. However, given the “battle a day” environment around the Executive table and the looming 2027 Assembly election, I do believe it will be much of the same up on the hill!!
According to the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA), the economy of Northern Ireland NI expanded in 2025: output rose by 2.0% over Q2, and by 3.5% compared with Q2 2024. Overall output is now 12.1% above pre-pandemic (Q4 2019) levels, with an annualised growth rate of 2.8%. The main driver was growth in the service sector. Most commentators argue that the Executive has repeatedly shied away from “difficult choices”on budget priorities, infrastructure, long-term challenges like wastewater, productivity, or poverty and has failed to produce a coherent, cross-departmental investment strategy. The absence of that plan undermines the ability to implement meaningful, long-term change.
While the overall economy has grown, a recent report from the Northern Ireland Productivity Forum shows that the rise in NI’s productivity ranking (now 8th of 12 UK regions) masks stagnation in real productivity. Hourly output remains at about £40, unchanged since 2022. Of 20 “drivers” of long-run productivity, 13 remain below the UK average; key weaknesses remain in education/skills, management practices, and economic inactivity.
This suggests that despite some short-term economic growth, NI continues to struggle with long-term competitiveness and capability – a structural problem that the Executive has yet to effectively address.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced her decision to make new connections to the electricity grid fairer and more affordable for rural businesses. Reinforcement costs, previously charged for any upgrade to increase the capacity of the local network, will now be spread across all consumers, and over a longer period of time. The decision will remove a major barrier to business investment in rural areas.
The Minister said: “The existing connection policy is unfair to rural communities, which shoulder the burden of reinforcement costs.
“Sharing these costs will make it easier for rural businesses to invest in productivity improvements and job creation, strengthening regional balance. And by increasing investment in renewable energy, fairer connection costs will lessen our reliance on expensive fossil fuels and help us to move to cheaper and more sustainable energy sources.
“This new policy also brings us into line with the rest of Ireland and Britain, making the north a more competitive destination for businesses investment and job creation.”
I welcomed the announcement, saying: “This announcement by the Minister is very welcome news for our members across Northern Ireland. Our mineral products industry, which is very much a rural sector here, is on a 3D transition of Decarbonisation, Digitisation and Diversity. The “socialisation” of grid reinforcement costs will greatly assist and speed up our journey to net zero with significant benefits for wider society as companies invest in renewable technologies such as wind, solar and small-scale green hydrogen thus helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment in Northern Ireland”.
What does “socialisation” of grid connection costs means for the quarry industry in NI? Read the MPANI briefing paper at https://mcusercontent.com/0e749f02c5a58b746bd03b5a8/files/0e1c1f2c-3b29-724d-340d-4753f0c2fda3/Briefing_Note_on_Socialisation_of_Grid_Connection_costs_for_Members_Nov_2025.pdf
COMMON SENSE HAS PREVAILED
Some positive news was that common sense has prevailed on the government’s proposed reforms to the landfill tax regime, with the quarry exemption being retained. Consultation processes can be frustrating at times, but this is one example where hard data and evidence of the economic impact on the minerals sector and the wider construction industry it supports has directly influenced the direction of policy travel being taken by HM Treasury.
Thanks to MPA lobbying and engagement the government will not be proceeding at this time with converging the two rates of Landfill Tax, as consulted on earlier this year. The government has listened to stakeholders’ arguments made in response to the consultation, and revised its approach to ensure the reforms to Landfill Tax are proportionate, do not impose unavoidable costs on businesses and do not undermine the government’s target of building 1.5 million new homes in England. The government will instead prevent the gap between the two rates of Landfill Tax getting any wider over the coming years. The government will also retain the tax exemption for backfilling quarries to ensure that housebuilders and the construction sector continue to have access to a low-cost alternative to landfill.
To view the MPA Budget Briefing, visit https://email.mineralproducts.org/cr/AQjfrRUQ3OEfGLf1xhJPi5PJwQmC8F4Guj4hsXH2IvMQ5HuqjaVPtcxUWmRjKA
ACHIEVEMENTS AND OBJECTIVES
MPANI again were extremely active in 2025 representing members and the wider industry interests. I have summarised some of our achievements and also listed our overall focus areas and objectives for 2026.
1. HEALTH & SAFETY
Employee and Contractor:
• MPANI support and co-ordinate the prestressing, silica dust, workplace health initiatives with HSENI
• MPANI issue guidance to members on driver safety and all-round visibility in vehicles
• MPANI issue guidance and toolbox talk on preventing violence and aggression towards roadworkers
• MPANI continue to promote safe quarry and the need to report safety alerts
Public Safety:
• MPANI and HSENI write to school principals in NI seeking support for cold water safety message and warning of the dangers of trespassing in active and disused quarries
• MPANI, Department for Infrastructure Roads and the Police Service of Northern Ireland run two successful social media campaigns in 2025 promoting road worker safety
2. PEOPLE
Employment:
• MPANI develop and promote our Women in Minerals initiative by producing a video for social media specifically targeted at young women and girls
• MPANI work with Construction Futures in NI to promote the wider construction sector as an exciting and valuable long-time career
Skills and Competence
• MPANI work with South West and Northern Regional Colleges to promote apprenticeships in our industry
• MPANI, in partnership with CITBNI and People First, run another L4 Site Supervisors Course with Highway Maintenance Focus
• MPANI in partnership with CITB and Concrete Society run two “Back to Basics with Concrete” courses for construction site supervisors based on MPA Best Practice Booklet
Equality and Diversity:
• MPANI Women in Minerals Group hold a number of networking events to promote our industry to young women and girls
Local Communities:
• MPANI become members of the Sperrin Partnership to promote and safeguard our members’ operations in the Sperrins AONB
• MPANI continue our affiliation with the Belfast Hills Partnership to promote and communicate the economic, heritage and social value in the Belfast Hills
3. RESOURCE USE
Access to Sufficient Minerals and Resources:
• MPANI work with the Department for the Economy Minerals Branch to improve and maximise returns of the annual minerals statement
• MPANI work with local councils to build relationships with local operators and facilitate the flow of important information that measures the economic and social value of the mineral products sector in each council area
Circular Economy:
• MPANI work with stakeholders to investigate the use of biochar in cement, biomethane as a fuel and the longer-term use of small-scale green hydrogen
Water:
• MPANI work with the NI Environment Agency to promote and ensure compliance to the “Wise Use of Water” best practice guidance
4. CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY
Carbon and Atmospheric Emissions:
• MPANI continue to play important role as a partner in the Innovate UK supported NI Decarbonisation Initiative
• MPANI continue to support and facilitate a number of decarbonisation collaborative networks;
1. Use of Biochar in Cement with Queen’s University, Agri-Food and Bio-Science Laboratory, Agriad and four local cement companies
2. Low value / high volume materials as cement replacements
3. Manufacture and use of Bio-methane in mineral product transport and manufacturing
4. Formed a mineral products cluster in the Toomebridge area for MPANI members to reduce energy costs and decarbonise
5. Through the IDNI project we have set up a Community of Shared Interest (COSI) to promote collaboration across our mineral products sector in NI to accelerate decarbonisation
Energy:
• MPANI continued our working relationships with the Department for the Economy, NIE Networks and the Energy Regulator to improve access to and cost of connecting to the energy grid to reduce costs for members and help facilitate the journey to net zero. This has resulted in the Economy Minister announcing the “Socialisation” of grid reinforcement costs thus reducing the costs for our members to connect to the electricity grid
5. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Biodiversity:
• MPANI continue work to facilitate biodiversity partnerships between members, local councils and NGOs
• MPANI and a number of members continue to engage and support the work of the All Island Pollinator Plan
Geodiversity:
• MPANI continues to play an important role on the Consultative Committee for the Geological Survey NI
6. BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Technical Codes and Standards:
• MPANI inform the local construction and design sectors about changes to BS8500 and promote the use of companies that have 3rd Party BSI and QSRMC quality assurance
Sustainable Construction
• MPANI work with colleagues in the NI Construction Group and with Government Construction Clients to promote Responsible Sourcing and recognition of responsible operators
7. COMMUNICATING INDUSTRY VALUE
Contribution to Economy and Supply Chain:
• MPANI respond to 15 consultations during 2025 on behalf of members
Influencing Business Environment
• MPANI play key role on a number of industry bodies
• All Party Group on Construction
• CBI Infrastructure Group
• CBI Economic Strategy Group
• CBI Energy Group
• NI Business Brexit Working Group
• UK Minerals Group and
• Consultative Committee for the Geological Survey NI
MPANI FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2026
Role – Facilitator to / from government influence.
UNDER PLANNING
• Objective 1 – Continue to work with others, including CBI, NI Chamber and NICG, to improve the planning system in NI via the planning reform agenda and in particular to establish a more efficient minerals planning system to ensure that the long-term sustainability of the mineral products industry and its right to operate are protected. Continue to engage and build on work done to date with local council planning departments to build and raise awareness of the economic and social value of the mineral products sector in each council area
• Objective 2 – Continue to engage with senior planners via the Strategic Planning Group, led by Senior Planner Rosemary Daly, to establish a “Council Shared Service” for minerals planning. Encourage the industry to supply the relevant aggregate resource and production information to enable Department for Infrastructure and local council planners to develop mineral policies and plans that ensures the future sustainable supply of minerals and construction materials
• Objective 3 – Continue our work with IoQ, RTPI, DfI, NILGA and others to build the knowledge and capacity of local planning officers to ensure their understanding of the industry results in a fast and efficient service to MPANI members
• Objective 4 – Continue to work with the Department of the Economy, GSNI, Strategic Planning Division and local council planning staff to establish a Northern Ireland Minerals Forum. MPANI will continue to make a constructive contribution to the UK Minerals Forum
• Objective 5 – Work with regulatory authorities within Northern Ireland to ensure a level playing field for the minerals industry and clear recognition for responsible operators. Ensure that the introduction of a review mechanism for environmental conditions does not come with additional planning fees. Work to ensure that the introduction of restoration bonds is risk based, fair and economically sustainable
• Objective 6 – Work with NIEA and others to improve communication and understanding between MPANI members and environmental regulators
• Objective 7 – Respond to public sector consultation papers on issues that affect our members operations
UNDER ECONOMY
• Objective 1 – Continue to work through our Highway Maintenance and Construction Group and with Northern Ireland Construction Group (NICG) partners to improve the communication of the pipeline of infrastructure work, maximise funding for the maintenance of key infrastructure assets, maximise the benefit of longer-term 3 and 4 year budgets from April 2026
• Objective 2 – Work with industry colleagues and the NI Executive and Assembly to ensure more investment into improving skills, knowledge and experience in key decision-making roles in the public sector departments
• Objective 3 – Work with construction industry colleagues, Manufacturing NI, FE and others to ensure the education and careers systems develop young people so they gain the relevant skills suitable for a modern growing economy
• Objective 4 – Work with DfE, Invest NI, local councils, universities and FE colleges to secure support for collaboration between MPANI members to enable them to transition to renewable/zero carbon energy, for the re-training of staff for new zero carbon technologies and to utilise innovative technology and digitisation
• Objective 5 – Engage with government and others to make realistic changes to the NI Climate Change act 2020 and 2040 targets so that they do not act as a barrier to much needed development in NI
• Objective 6 – Work with other business groups and the NI Energy Regulator to ensure we see changes in the NI Energy market. Work with all relevant parties to ensure the efficient roll out of the socialisation of grid connection costs
• Objective 7 – Work with our colleagues in the farming and agri-food sector to collaborate on areas such as biomethane and biochar production that will assist the mineral products sector in reaching net zero ambitions
ROLE – EDUCATION INTERNAL/EXTERNAL
• Objective 1 – To advise and inform the industry on its legal obligations under health and safety law to ensure that improving performance on reducing incidents of harm continues. We will continue working with other partners to assist members in dealing with the management of mental health, the fatal 6 risk areas and achieving our aims as set out in the MPA Vision Zero. To ensure that all members fulfil their obligations in reporting health and safety data, signing up to safequarry and circulating safety alerts
• Objective 2 – To develop and deliver training, competence assessment and Level 3 and above apprenticeships in partnership with IoQ, IAT, CIHT, MPQC, Concrete Society, CITBNI and others to raise skill levels across all sectors that MPANI represent and with customers who use our members products
• Objective 3 – To promote our MPA Good Neighbour Scheme and to assist members in engaging with their local community stakeholders
• Objective 4 – To take every opportunity to engage with political decision-makers to highlight the essential contribution the mineral products sector makes to the local and national economy
• Objective 5 – Work with key stakeholders, such as Womenstec, our Women in Minerals Group and our Young Leaders Group to promote diversity and the important role of women within the mineral products industry
• Objective 6 – Work with all relevant stakeholders to inform and advise our members on energy efficiency and on reducing their carbon emissions
ROLE – PROTECT AND EXPAND MARKET
• Objective 1 – Work with public sector agencies, including local councils building control, Housing Associations and other construction representative bodies to promote the use of quality assured and responsibly sourced construction materials
• Objective 2 – Be an active participant in the promotion of UK Concrete, highlighting the positive aspects of concrete and masonry construction to those within the NI construction sector and government construction clients
• Objective 3 – Work collaboratively with the Department for Infrastructure to improve the procurement and delivery process for highway maintenance and construction by more contractor involvement
• Objective 4 – Maximise the benefits created by AI and new online technology to promote the positive contribution our Industry makes to the economy and people’s quality of life
• Objective 5 – Advise and inform our members as they continue to manage the challenges and opportunities created by the Windsor Framework
• Objective 6 – Sustain and Increase the MPANI full and affiliate Membership
If you’re interested in becoming a full or affiliate member of MPANI and get access to up-to-date Industry news and guidance, don’t hesitate to give me a call on 07876136929. It would be great to have you on-board.
May I wish you all a safe and successful 2026.
