The three main sporting bodies involved in the Maze stadium plan have all rejected an invitation to meet a Stormont committee to further discussions on the proposals.

 

Northern Ireland's Department of Culture Arts and Leisure Committee asked for the meeting with the three men in charge of the IFA, GAA and Ulster Rugby to talk about the stalled plan.

Howard Wells of the IFA, the GAA's Danny Murphy and Mike Reid of Ulster Rugby, who all support the original proposals all declined because they have already met the Committee and are frustrated by the lack of action.

 

The Gaelic Athletic Association, Irish Football Association and Ulster Rugby have already told the Assembly they would play games at the new stadium.

Other options examined and so far rejected include a possible stadium on reclaimed land in North Belfast and the refurbishment of the three sporting codes' existing venues.

 

Northern Ireland have been promised some matches in the Olympic football tournament if the stadium, due to be built on the site of the former prison in Lisburn which housed several IRA prisioners, is completed in time.

 

"What we don't want is continuing maybes because that doesn't help any of us," said Howard Wells, chief executive of the Irish Football Association.

 

"I think what we need is a situation where we actually know what is going to happen and what sort of time frame we're talking about, but we've been saying that repeatedly for months."