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| Casement Park: Minister Carál Ní Chuilín recalled over GAA stadium safety claims | Casement Park: Minister Carál Ní Chuilín recalled over GAA stadium safety claims |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Stormont's sports minister is to be recalled to a committee over claims that she knew about safety concerns at a Belfast stadium as far back as 2012. | Stormont's sports minister is to be recalled to a committee over claims that she knew about safety concerns at a Belfast stadium as far back as 2012. |
| Carál Ní Chuilín previously said she first heard about fears over Casement Park's emergency exits last year. | Carál Ní Chuilín previously said she first heard about fears over Casement Park's emergency exits last year. |
| However, that has now been contradicted by the former chairperson of Sport NI. | However, that has now been contradicted by the former chairperson of Sport NI. |
| Dominic Walsh told Stormont's Culture, Arts and Leisure committee that Ms Ní Chuilín was briefed on the concerns at a meeting in the summer of 2012. | Dominic Walsh told Stormont's Culture, Arts and Leisure committee that Ms Ní Chuilín was briefed on the concerns at a meeting in the summer of 2012. |
| Mr Walsh said the then permanent secretary of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the minister's special adviser were also present at the meeting. | Mr Walsh said the then permanent secretary of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the minister's special adviser were also present at the meeting. |
| He said it was a detailed conversation and they even discussed the possible purchase of houses near Casement Park to accommodate better exiting arrangements. | He said it was a detailed conversation and they even discussed the possible purchase of houses near Casement Park to accommodate better exiting arrangements. |
| The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) wants to build a new stadium on its existing grounds at Casement Park, west Belfast, but the multi-million pound project has been beset with problems and delays. Its planning permission was overturned last year. | The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) wants to build a new stadium on its existing grounds at Casement Park, west Belfast, but the multi-million pound project has been beset with problems and delays. Its planning permission was overturned last year. |
| Stormont's Culture, Arts and Leisure committee is conducting an inquiry into whether "appropriate consideration was given to plans for emergency exiting during the design process". | Stormont's Culture, Arts and Leisure committee is conducting an inquiry into whether "appropriate consideration was given to plans for emergency exiting during the design process". |
| Previously, Minister Ní Chuilín said the first she heard of the safety concerns was April last year, when Sport NI's stadium expert Paul Scott gave evidence to the committee. | Previously, Minister Ní Chuilín said the first she heard of the safety concerns was April last year, when Sport NI's stadium expert Paul Scott gave evidence to the committee. |
| In a BBC interview at the time, the minister said the safety concerns had not been known to her "ever before". | In a BBC interview at the time, the minister said the safety concerns had not been known to her "ever before". |
| She added: "I am absolutely confident that had concerns of that nature been raised with my officials before, I would have heard about it." | She added: "I am absolutely confident that had concerns of that nature been raised with my officials before, I would have heard about it." |
| However, Mr Walsh insisted on Thursday that the minister was present at a regular Friday "update meeting" in the summer of 2012 at which the issues were discussed. | However, Mr Walsh insisted on Thursday that the minister was present at a regular Friday "update meeting" in the summer of 2012 at which the issues were discussed. |
| Committee member William Humphrey, from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said it was important to find out if the minister had "misremembered or misled" the committee. | Committee member William Humphrey, from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said it was important to find out if the minister had "misremembered or misled" the committee. |
| Its members voted in favour of asking her to return to the committee to explain what happened. | Its members voted in favour of asking her to return to the committee to explain what happened. |
| In a statement, Ms Nί Chuilίn denied misleading the committee and said she welcomed the opportunity to "again present evidence and rebut allegations made by other parties". | |
| "I have put on record that I was not aware of allegations in relation to concerns around emergency exiting at Casement Park prior to April 2015. I am happy to put this on record again today and will do so again before the committee. | |
| "Also, on being made aware of these allegations in April 2015, I immediately commissioned a fully independent Project Assessment Review (PAR) led by the British Cabinet Office to provide overall assurance of the Regional Stadia Programme and Casement Park in particular. | |
| "This report was published on 7 August 2015." |