The Fermanagh/South Tyrone Minster Arlene Foster, has found herself at the centre of a row over her decision to back plans for private development at the Giant's Causeway.
The row comes as it has been revealed the developer behind the scheme is a member of the DUP and had signed nomination papers for a DUP Councillor. However, Seymour Sweeney has denied ever donating money to the Party.
Mrs Foster said on Monday she had been 'minded' to accept Seymour Sweeney's proposal's for development of the Giant's Causeway. However, there has now been speculation this could be challenged in court.
Mr Sweeney admitted he was a member of the Party and had signed nomination papers for a DUP Councillor, but, he insisted he had 'never given a penny piece to the Party'. He also explained he had never met Mrs Foster or Nigel Dodds, the DUP Ministers at the centre of a row.
Mr Sweeney accepted he had 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. However, the developer said he meets representatives of all the main political parties.
Mrs Foster has been defending her move and said she had gone to the site herself and had held meetings with officials in the Environment and Heritage Service. She said: "I made an announcement on the planning considerations for a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway. I made that announcement based on the correct and proper procedures which govern my conduct as Minister.
"There have been reports, in some sections of the media, which might have implied to some, that I may have allowed other extraneous factors, ie. the party political membership of the applicant, to affect my views on this application.
"I totally reject any such implications. I regard them as baseless and scurrilous," Mrs Foster continued. "A minister, when making decisions, cannot and should not investigate party affiliations of applicants, and I did not do so in this case. 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."
Mrs Foster said she had visited the site and felt there was considerable merit to the Seaport Investments Ltd plan for a new Visitor and Study Centre at the site.
However, the Chairman of the Causeway Coast and Glen Heritage Trust, Dr David Irwin said he was mystified at events: "We went to international competition, we came up with what everyone considered the almost perfect solution to the problem," he said.
"I think this decision is almost certain to provoke a judicial review. I don't know where that requirement will come from, but I will be very surprised if it doesn't come from somewhere."
Meanwhile, Economy Minister Nigel Dodds has dropped plans to spend £21m of public money on the Centre. Mr Dodds said his Department and the Tourist Board had become involved, "because key stakeholders had been unable to reach agreement".
He said his Department had been involved as "a potential developer of last resort".
