Still Pootering around with the figures...

One of the more humorous side-effects of the devolution experiment is the fact that someone of the calibre of Edwin Poots, a politician who shouldn't have been trusted with anything more onerous than deciding what colour of flowers to be planted in Lisburn town square, has unbelievably become a "Culture" Minister.

Poots is, of course, not only Stormont's equivalent of the village idiot, but also MLA for Lagan Valley and the chief proponent for the building the new “Shared Future” etc etc multi-sports-stadium on the site of the old Maze Prison, which just happens to be situated in his own constituency...that's what I like so much about these devolved parliaments, local politicians delivering local solutions.

This is what Poots said 20th June 2007 about the rival proposals to build the stadium in Belfast:

"Time is marching on and this process cannot go on indefinitely," he said.

"After all, the decision to locate the new multi-sports stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh was made over two years ago in March, 2005. A considerable amount of work has been going on since then. That is why I am now setting a deadline of June 30 by which date I must have proposals which meet the agreed criteria.”

Indeed. Time is moving on, Northern Ireland will very soon need a new or updated venue to play its World Cup qualifying games.
The decision to locate at the Maze was taken in March 2005, "a considerable amount of work has been going on since then" and yet...

Plans for a £70 million national stadium at the Maze have been hit by another delay, it emerged today.

NI finance minister Peter Robinson was supposed to be handed a business case for the proposed multi-sports venue before Christmas.

However, just days before the Executive agrees its budget for the next three years, he still hasn't seen one.

Sports minister Edwin Poots had pledged to present the cost implications of the development to Mr Robinson's department in December.

Was it not supposed to be ready by the end of October?
Whatever...

A spokeswoman for Mr Poots' Culture, Arts and Leisure department said the business plan was "still being considered" by DCAL officials.

Yeah, I bet it is.

I think we're approaching the endgame on this one, there is no valid business-case for the Maze and Poots is going to emerge looking even more of a fool than usual.

Shouldn't grumble, he's almost single-handedly (with bit of help from Ms Ruane) demonstrated why a growing proportion of Northern Ireland's electorate now regard "their" "Assembly" with nothing short of amused contempt.