Statement by TUV deputy leader Court Councillor Ron McDowell:
“Naomi Long’s accusation of sectarianism levelled against opponents of Casement is a dog whistle to her base in order to side step the real issues which surround this project.
“Does she believe that the Executive should pay the £300 million bill for Casement?
“Where does she believe these funds should come from? Our health budget? From our schools? Where is she proposing the axe should fall?
“What will she sacrifice from the Justice budget to build Casement?
“Those are questions Alliance have failed to address. It is easy to ignore the substantive points and throw around lazy accusations of sectarianism.
“But since she did raise the issue of sectarianism, where exactly does the Alliance Party stand on the very real concerns which have been raised by my party in recent days? Is she concerned about the fact that there appears to be nothing in the funding agreement between the Executive and the GAA to prevent tens of thousands at Casement singing “Up the Ra” in years to come?”