The Northern Ireland Environment Minister tonight threatened legal action amid claims DUP membership had put a developer in pole position to build the new Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre.
Arlene Foster rejected accusations that her decision could be influenced by the political affiliation of the preferred businessman and added that there had been "baseless and scurrilous" reporting of the matter.
Yesterday the DUP minister said she was minded to accept the planning application of Seymour Sweeney from Seaport (NI) Ltd, for the North Coast tourist attraction.
She said: "Today 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. 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."
North Antrim MLAs Daithi McKay and Declan O'Loan have called on the DUP to clarify their relationship with the developer.
The Causeway attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year. The previous visitors' centre on the site burned down in April 2000. The Assembly is debating the matter this afternoon.
PA