PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said the DUP needs to get its act together and tell people honestly what it intends to do on the Maze stadium project.  

He said: “The comments by former Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Edwin Poots underline the extent to which the DUP is totally divided and sending mixed signals on the Maze Project. He talked about civil servants opposing the project and working against it, but interestingly he didn’t say what department they are in. It is in fact unlikely that they are in DCAL, and far more likely that people in Peter Robinson’s former Department of Finance and Personnel are briefing against him.

“Poots did not sound terribly positive about keeping his job, and he did end up losing it, but the whole Maze project should not get the sack along with him. This is a unique project for a top-class arena providing top-class sporting entertainment which can send out a very positive signal about who we are and where we are going.

“This project had four-party backing and it is time to stop stalling. We need to get the Maze up and running for the Olympics. The new First Minister team should realise the uplifting potential of this project and get together to drive it forward.”

ENDS

10.06.08