The Northern Ireland Prison Service requested access to the former Maze Prison site near Lisburn for an international conference it is hosting in Belfast this October. The request was denied by the office of First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly.

More than 700 delegates from 90 countries will attend the International Corrections and Prisons Association annual event. The conference includes visits to prison-related sites. The Department of Justice submitted the application last October for the final day but it was not approved.

The 350-acre site has remained undeveloped for 12 years amid political disagreements over the preserved prison buildings. These structures held paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles and were the location of republican hunger strikes in 1981, where 10 inmates died. The prison closed in 2000, with some buildings demolished and others listed.

Access requests require approval from O'Neill of Sinn Féin and Little Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party. Since devolved government returned in 2024, they have approved fewer than half of such requests.

The Executive Office stated that the site's condition and facilities make it unsuitable for general public access, and its sensitivity must be considered. Requests are evaluated case by case.

The Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation discussed the matter and agreed to further talks with the Prison Service. Parts of the site currently host the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, Ulster Aviation Society, and the annual Balmoral Show.

Alliance Party member Michelle Guy said the decision represents a missed opportunity and questions commitment to the site's development. SDLP member Sinéad McLaughlin called it short-sighted, noting risks to addressing historical aspects constructively. TUV's Sammy Morrison advocated demolishing the remaining structures.