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| Causeway must be public - council | Causeway must be public - council |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Coleraine Borough Council has voted unanimously to keep the proposed visitor's centre at the Giant's Causeway in public hands. | Coleraine Borough Council has voted unanimously to keep the proposed visitor's centre at the Giant's Causeway in public hands. |
| The DUP Mayor Maurice Bradley seconded a motion put forward by SDLP councillor John Dallat. | The DUP Mayor Maurice Bradley seconded a motion put forward by SDLP councillor John Dallat. |
| Several DUP councillors were among those who who voted in favour of the motion. | Several DUP councillors were among those who who voted in favour of the motion. |
| Environment Minister Arlene Foster has said that she favours a plan by private developer Seymour Sweeney. | Environment Minister Arlene Foster has said that she favours a plan by private developer Seymour Sweeney. |
| On Tuesday, Sinn Fein called for the DUP to clarify its relationship with the millionaire developer. | On Tuesday, Sinn Fein called for the DUP to clarify its relationship with the millionaire developer. |
| Mr Sweeney has said he is a member of the DUP and had signed nomination papers for a party councillor but never gave "a penny piece" to the party. | Mr Sweeney has said he is a member of the DUP and had signed nomination papers for a party councillor but never gave "a penny piece" to the party. |
| It has also emerged that Ian Paisley Jnr bought a house in Bushmills at full market value from Mr Sweeney. | It has also emerged that Ian Paisley Jnr bought a house in Bushmills at full market value from Mr Sweeney. |
| Seymour Sweeney said he had not given the DUP money | Seymour Sweeney said he had not given the DUP money |
| Ms Foster said it was "rubbish" to suggest that she was influenced by Mr Sweeney's membership of the DUP. | Ms Foster said it was "rubbish" to suggest that she was influenced by Mr Sweeney's membership of the DUP. |
| "I do not know the applicant, have never met him, and know nothing about him. | "I do not know the applicant, have never met him, and know nothing about him. |
| "If anyone impugns my integrity in this matter I will be seeking legal advice and will act accordingly," she said | "If anyone impugns my integrity in this matter I will be seeking legal advice and will act accordingly," she said |
| Basalt | Basalt |
| The managing director of Seaport Ltd said he had never met Ms Foster or Nigel Dodds, the economy minister who has dropped plans to spend £21m of public money on the centre. | The managing director of Seaport Ltd said he had never met Ms Foster or Nigel Dodds, the economy minister who has dropped plans to spend £21m of public money on the centre. |
| He said he has met DUP leader Ian Paisley who is the MP in his area of North Antrim and Ian Paisley jnr who is an MLA for the area. | He said he has met DUP leader Ian Paisley who is the MP in his area of North Antrim and Ian Paisley jnr who is an MLA for the area. |
| North Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay had called on the DUP to clarify their relationship with the developer. | North Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay had called on the DUP to clarify their relationship with the developer. |
| Earlier, chairman of the Causeway Coast and Glen Heritage Trust Dr David Irwin said the backing for a privately-funded centre was "almost certain to provoke a judicial review". | Earlier, chairman of the Causeway Coast and Glen Heritage Trust Dr David Irwin said the backing for a privately-funded centre was "almost certain to provoke a judicial review". |
| The Causeway attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year. The previous visitors' centre on the site burned down in April 2000. | The Causeway attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year. The previous visitors' centre on the site burned down in April 2000. |
| Renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt - resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago - it is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. | Renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt - resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago - it is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. |