Casement Park redevelopment
Deputy McDonald urged the Taoiseach to reaffirm support for Casement Park and Euro 2028. The Taoiseach confirmed the Government wants the stadium delivered and says its funding commitment was set out in February.
I wish to raise the issue of the stadium at Casement Park in Belfast. As the Taoiseach will know, this is a flagship Executive project. Indeed, it is a key and a joint commitment, not just among the parties of the Executive but between Dublin and London as well. The Taoiseach will also be aware that the opportunity to be part of hosting Euro 2028 was cited as a further incentive to get this project done. I am very concerned that the current British Government, the Tory Government, is walking off the pitch with a bag full of broken promises. I ask the Taoiseach to reiterate today the commitment in respect of funding for this project, the delivery of this project and the expectation here in Dublin that, no matter who is in No. 10 Downing Street, this commitment will be honoured in full, the stalling, the delay, the bad faith and the broken promises will end and that we will see Casement Park constructed in west Belfast.
Comment on this
I thank Deputy McDonald for raising the issue. I absolutely assure the Deputy that the Government has been very clear that we want to see a redeveloped Casement Park delivered in time to host the Euro 2028 games. That is why our funding commitment was confirmed in February. As the Deputy will know, the Casement Park redevelopment is owned and managed by the GAA, working with the Northern Ireland Executive. It is for these partners to confirm the overall funding approach to deliver the redeveloped stadium. While it is for UEFA to confirm this point, it is understood that its decision in principle regarding the hosting of Euro 2028 matches at the redeveloped Casement Park in Belfast will be made in the coming weeks. We remain absolutely committed to this being the case and I intend to pursue this matter and work with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government.