“Years have been needlessly lost because of political meddling and in particular through the politically supported attempt to hijack the site for private commercial exploitation. The notorious lobbying by Ian Paisley Junior in support of Seymour Sweeney being allowed to build and run the visitor facilities, rather than public bodies, brought not just delay but marked one of the most discreditable chapters in local politics for many years. The manner in which both DOE and DETI Ministers, under the DUP, were initially prepared to facilitate the Sweeney project, before public opinion turned them, was disgraceful. If the DUP had got their way today we’d be facing a Sweeney takeover, rather than a public project at the Causeway. I am glad I was able to play a part in derailing the Paisley/Sweeney plan through some FOI exposure.

“Now that the right sort of project is being built, I trust we can look forward to early completion and the bringing to the Causeway of facilities commensurate with its status as our top tourist attraction.  Such will be good news not just for North Antrim but Northern Ireland as a whole.”