Lyons 'needs to show he's minister for all sports' - GAA

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons needs to do more to show he is a minister for all sports, a senior member of Ulster GAA has said.

Lyons has been criticised by GAA president Jarlath Burns over his handling of the stalled redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast.

The minister said it was "very easy to blame a unionist minister" and insisted the hold-up was not his fault.

Speaking on The View on BBC One, Ulster GAA's head of stadium development Stephen McGeehan said the minster still needs to "demonstrate his bona fides in relation to the GAA community".

"I think it is probably unprecedented that a minister for sport more than one year in office has not been to a GAA fixture," he said, adding that since Lyons came into office only one meeting had taken place about Casement Park.

That meeting was held in October of last year, Mr McGeehan said.

"We are watching on as the minister has announced initiatives - which we welcome - in relation to the Northern Ireland Football Fund, to the progression of the IFA's national training centre and we want to see equity, we want to see a fair distribution of resources and it is time to move Casement Park on."

The GAA has enjoyed a "constructive and hard working" relationship with previous DUP sports ministers, Mr McGeehan added.

He said: "We want that again, it is not too late for that, but the minster needs to demonstrate good faith.

"Our membership are frustrated. They believe there is an equality issue. We are looking for parity of esteem. If the minister was to find the time to come to a GAA event, to put time into meeting with the GAA in relation to this strategic project, I think he can still do the right thing."

Casement Park represents the "single greatest investment in a GAA, in any stadium asset in Belfast and in Northern Ireland," he added, but as of yet, the minister "has not demonstrated to date his willingness, by his actions" to move it forward.

Earlier on Thursday, Lyons hit back at claims that he had helped to create a "hostile atmosphere" for the GAA.

He said that £17m had been spent preparing for the full redevelopment of the Casement site.

Last week, Burns pointed to a range of issues facing the GAA and added: "We are operating in a very hostile environment, there's no doubt about it, and it's disappointing to say that because of all the work we do reaching out."

At a meeting on Thursday of the communities committee at Stormont, this was put to Lyons by Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan.

He responded: "I certainly wouldn't agree with that characterisation at all, that there is any way a hostile environment towards Jarlath or the GAA.

"I can understand his frustration. I can understand why after 14 years of no action being taken that he is frustrated but there is certainly not a hostile environment that I am presiding over within this department.

"When he has requested to meet with me, I have met with him. Officials engage regularly, at least once a month on this issue."

The minister added: "He may well be under pressure from within his organisation as well, and I understand that.

"I don't think it is right to say that there is a hostile environment.

"It can be very easy sometimes to blame politicians, very easy to blame a unionist minister but that simply doesn't match up with the reality of what we've been doing in the department."

Brogan responded by saying Lyons should be "pushing forward" the Casement redevelopment.

She said: "I can totally understand the frustration of both Jarlath and Gaels right across the north at delays to this, and I do think as communities minister, it is your job to carry on that executive flagship project and see this project actually delivered."

The Casement Park redevelopment is in limbo due to a lack of money.

The GAA estimates it would cost £260m to build a 34,500-capacity new stadium, but only around £120m is currently available.

Lyons has said he stands by a long-standing Stormont commitment to spend £62.5m on the project and has asked the Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn how much the London government is willing to contribute.

Once he receives an answer, he says he will meet again with the GAA.

It has offered £15m to the project, while the Irish government has pledged around £42m.

Plans to build the stadium in time to host matches at the Euro 2028 soccer tournament were scuppered last year by the funding gap.

Lyons has been criticised by nationalist politicians for not yet attending a senior GAA match during more than a year in office.

You can watch Stephen McGeehan on The View on BBC iPlayer.