Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has warned that any delay in reaching an agreement over the future of the Maze Prison site could see the North miss out on the opportunity to play a part in the 2012 Olympics.
The site of the old Maze Prison and adjoining army base has been given to the power-sharing Executive by the British government for a national stadium - and they have been told by the Olympic organisers it will be used to host events - probably football. Despite a ground-breaking agreement by the soccer, rugby and GAA - Gaelic games - authorities agreeing to all use a national stadium at the Maze, politicians have yet to reach agreement about whether it is built there or on an, as yet undetermined site in Belfast.
Mr Woodward said the delay made it harder for him to convince Cabinet colleagues that more former military bases should be handed over to the Executive.The Secretary of State said: "The future of the Maze is obviously now a matter for politicians in Northern Ireland.
As an observer my sense of sadness about the failure to resolve the future of the Maze is there is a very real prospect now that if the stadium doesn't happen there, and happen there soon, it will not be ready for the Olympics."
That would mean a great opportunity for Northern Ireland to show its future, its prosperity and its changed face would be lost, he said.
"I think there is a huge obligation on the politicians here to get on with this.
"To lose the opportunity for the stadium to play a role in the Olympics in 2012 is tragic - its a huge lost moment for Northern Ireland and the politicians have to answer for that," he said on Inside Politics on BBC Radio Ulster.
PA