Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that today and tomorrow the First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, and the Deputy First Minister of the Executive will meet with the Irish Football Association and UEFA to stress the importance of this for Belfast. Yet, my fear is that the DUP is using the funding of Casement Park as a political football on a football field. This is because it is getting involved is saying “No more”. Its favourite word is “No”. It is saying there should be no more funding for Casement Park or the GAA.

Why has the cost gone from £77 million to £200 million in sterling? The answer is very simple. The newly elected GAA president, Jarlath Burns, pointed out yesterday on “Drivetime” that it has gone up because UEFA demands a certain spec for a stadium. As a result, the cost has gone up in tandem with what UEFA demands. The British Government pledged that it would not be found wanting if this ground was selected for a European soccer tournament. It has been selected. I am asking now for the Government to put pressure on the Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, to deliver on what he said last year, which was that he would find that funding gap. It is imperative that we do that.