MPs clash at Westminster over Casement Park plans
MPs have clashed at Westminster over plans to redevelop Casement Park in time for the Euro 2028 football championships.
Secretary of State Hilary Benn said the government was working âas quickly as possibleâ to assess the options for Casement.
He also stressed âone way or another the project will be completedâ.
But unionist MPs challenged the Secretary of State over proposed government funding for the stadium.
âIndefensibleâ
TUV MP Jim Allister warned against âpouring millions of poundsâ into the project at a time when the health service âneeds fixedâ.
The DUPâs Sammy Wilson said it would be âindefensibleâ if the government committed âÂŁ320mâ to the stadium for just âfive matchesâ at a time when there are âhuge health waiting listsâ.
Mr Wilson also raised the reported role of Labourâs chief of staff Sue Gray in the negotiations around the project.
He asked for an assurance that the government had ânot been influenced by personal interventions by the Chief of Staff of the Labour partyâ.
Ms Gray has previously worked as a civil servant in Northern Ireland. She held the post of Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance.
âInherited a commitmentâ
In response to Mr Wilson, in what was his first Commons appearance at Northern Ireland questions as Secretary of State, Mr Benn said the government had âinherited a commitment to hosting the Euros as Casement Parkâ.
But he added ânothing has happenedâ in the almost two years since UEFA awarded the right to host games.
âWe have been left in a situation were the cost has gone through the roof and we donât know if we had the money if you could build it in time,â he said.
âStormont ditherâ
SDLP MP Claire Hanna criticised what she called the âsnipingâ from the unionist benches and blamed the âStormont ditherâ and the inaction of the previous government for the delay.
The Secretary of State said the project was part of a 10-year commitment by the Executive.
âWindsor Park has been upgraded, Ravenhill has been upgraded and it is important that Casement is built. That is why I have said one way or another this project needs to be completed.â