Maze Logjam Broken
Martin McGuinness revealed earlier today, whilst attending the opening of Newry's "triple bypass", that the DUP and Sinn Fein have reached agreement on the future of the Maze site. The ill fated multi sports stadium is no more. But the other aspect of the plan hatched back in Tony Blair's day, an International Conflict Transformation Centre, has survived.
Its understood the centre will go ahead within the listed buildings on the Maze site, which include the prison hospital where the IRA hungers strikers died, an H block and an administrative block. The centre will be labelled as a European centre of excellence attracting millions in Euro funding. But the DUP will play down any attempt to portray it as a "shrine to IRA terrorists" by stressing that the conflict centre will be answerable to a board which will be drawn from across the divide with representation from former security force members as well as former prisoners.
Reaching a deal on the centre should allow work to proceed elsewhere on the site with a development corporation (similar to the one which took charge of Belfast's Laganside) at the helm. The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society is still thought to be keen to move to the Maze from its current premises at Balmoral in South Belfast.
Given that part of the ferocity of the opposition to the stadium plan was linked to unionist doubts about the conflict transformation centre, some may deem it ironic that we now have a "shrine" (to use the detractors' terminology) but no stadium. However the alternative is continued logjam, with millions being spent to keep the old buildings in mothballs.
The volume of traffic from international visitors already passing through Stormont shows the level of interest in what lessons if any our peace process might provide for other areas of conflict. It will now be fascinating to see whether the Maze centre further stimulates this conflict transformation cottage industry and how its management board deals the inevitable difficulties posed by providing an agreed account of the traumatic events which took place within and beyond those walls.
UPDATE THURSDAY 17.25 The First and Deputy First Ministers have just officially confirmed the Maze deal. I shall put the text of their written statement in the extended entry.
Robinson and McGuinness announce MLK development
First Minister Rt. Hon Peter Robinson MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA have outlined their plans for the future development of the Maze/Long Kesh site.
The Ministers will table a motion in the Assembly at the earliest possible opportunity to debate the draft Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Maze/ Long Kesh Development Corporation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2010.
If approved by the Assembly the Development Corporation will be constituted on the commencement of the Order and be operational within six months of the Assembly decision. The Corporation will oversee the opening and redevelopment of the site including the construction of a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution facility.
Mr McGuinness said: "The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister will shortly submit an EU funding application for a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Facility on the site. It is anticipated that the centre will be a world class facility of international importance designed to strengthen our peace building expertise and to share our experiences with others throughout the world.
"The Corporation will drive forward the development of the site and it is believed that the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society will relocate to the site during the first phase of the redevelopment."
Mr Robinson said: "The constitution of a Development Corporation for this strategically important Maze/Long Kesh site will enable us to realise the full economic potential of the site. The site represents a unique opportunity to help revive our economic output in these difficult times.
"The Development of the Maze/Long Kesh site is hugely significant not only in terms of Northern Ireland but for Europe as a whole. The site, which is some 360 acres, could potentially create some 6,000 jobs, securing the construction industry in Northern Ireland for years to come. This announcement represents agreement on another one of the outstanding issues facing the Executive, and as indicated at Hillsborough, we have been working to reduce the number of outstanding Executive papers."
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