Chris Heaton-Harris has suggested that Casement Park will not miss out on the chance to co-host the European Football Championships in 2028.
The secretary of state was asked about funding to redevelop Casement Park amid reports the west Belfast stadium could be axed by UEFA from the list of Euro 2028 host venues.
Mr Heaton-Harris repeated the assertion that an announcement will be made after the July 4 General Election.
British prime minister Rishi Sunak insisted the British government would make a “substantial contribution” to the redevelopment of Casement Park last month, but refused to say how much or if it will happen in time for the competition.
Asked on Friday about whether the British government reneging on its commitment to fund the redevelopment of Casement Park and whether that would affect Northern Ireland’s chances of hosting the Euros, Mr Heaton-Harris said: “I think you’ll find that there’ll be an announcement almost certainly by the new government on this in the future, which will suggest the premise of your question might not be correct.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who was also at the summit on the Isle of Man, said: “There have been a number of discussions and, as indicated, it is likely that this issue will be touched on again after the General Election, but we’re not anticipating any news prior to the General Election certainly on it.
“I’m privy to some of those discussions with the UK government, Chris Heaton-Harris would be more privy to some of that than I would be.”
Stormont junior minister Aisling Reilly has said it would be “unthinkable” for Northern Ireland to miss out on the chance of co-hosting the 2028 Euro competition.
“There’s actually not very many people who have had the opportunity to play on Casement Park,” the Sinn Fein MLA said.
“I am one of those people who have had the opportunity to play in Casement Park on a number of occasions.
“I know what it feels like to walk down the tunnel and to play on the pitch and the opportunities that that has afforded me. Unfortunately, a decade of people have missed out on that opportunity.
“But it’s not about the sport. It’s about the legacy of what it will bring. It’s about what it’s going to do for the economy, what it’s going to do for local businesses, what it’s going to do for Belfast, for the North.
“It’s unthinkable that we would miss out on the opportunity to host the Euros, particularly when we’re seeing it being played on our screens now in Germany and we see the buzz around Germany.
“Imagine seeing that in Belfast, imagine seeing that in the north and the opportunities that that would afford us. So for me not having Casement built is unthinkable.”
Earlier this week Taoiseach Simon Harris said Dublin government funding for Casement Park is guaranteed regardless of whether the stadium hosts games during Euro 2028.
Mr Harris said the €50 million commitment was not dependent on the west Belfast venue being part of the joint UK/Irish hosting of the showpiece football tournament.
His comments come amid mounting speculation that the stadium is set to be axed as a venue for 2028.
The derelict west Belfast ground has been earmarked to play host to five Euro 2028 matches.
