Bernard Allen
Question:54 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the position regarding the national conference centre. [3581/99]
Vol. 500 No. 1
54 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the position regarding the national conference centre. [3581/99]
386 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 1 December 1998, the proposed Spencer Dock national conference centre is still on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3509/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 386 together.
The latest tender procedure for the development of a National Conference Centre in Dublin, with EU assistance of up to 33 million ECU under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999, was organised by Bord Fáilte under the direction of the independent management board for product development.
The procedure was conducted under the terms of EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC and Bord Fáilte-led evaluation teams undertook detailed assessments of full tender submissions which were received from five consortia. The management board concluded that the tenders submitted were not such as to enable it to make a recommendation and the process then proceeded to the negotiated procedure stage provided for in Article 7 of the EU Directive. This was conducted by an independent team of technical experts, specially appointed for the purpose by Bord Fáilte. On consideration of their findings, and following a positive recommendation by the board of Bord Fáilte, the management board decided on the proposal submitted by Spencer Dock International Convention Centre Limited to develop the project at a site in Dublin Docklands.