Can you collect a person from a Northern Ireland motorway hard shoulder?

No. A motorway hard shoulder is not a passenger pick-up or drop-off point for ordinary motorists.

The Northern Ireland Highway Code restricts hard-shoulder stopping to emergencies and certain authorised purposes. Meeting a friend, collecting a stranded walker or avoiding a service-area detour does not make it a safe place to stop a car. The person waiting may be dangerously exposed to high-speed traffic. Arrange collection at a proper motorway service area, nearby junction or other lawful off-motorway location.