Vol. 532 No. 1
43 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the outcome of his discussions on 23 February 2001 with the FAI regarding its plans for Eircom Park and the possible use by the association of the proposed Stadium Ireland; and if he has received any commitment from the FAI in this regard. [6603/01]
75 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will report on the recent meeting with the treasurer of the Football Association of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3742/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 75 together.
A number of meetings have taken place between the FAI and the Government to discuss possible use by the association of Campus and Stadium Ireland. The most recent of these meetings were held on 29 January with the treasurer of the FAI and on 23 February and 5 March with its president, chief executive and representatives of the officer board of the FAI.
At the meeting held on 23 February between the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance, the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, representatives of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited representatives of the Football Association of Ireland and I, the Taoiseach outlined a Government proposal for detailed negotiations with the FAI on participating in Stadium Ireland and Sports Campus Ireland. The FAI representatives asked a series of specific questions on the proposal and related issues. The Taoiseach, other Ministers present and I responded to these queries and the Taoiseach undertook to have an expanded detailed proposal prepared for discussion at a further meeting between the two sides. This further meeting was held yesterday at which the Taoiseach expanded on the proposal which would form the basis for further detailed negotiation. The FAI agreed to respond to the Government urgently based on it communicating this proposal to its constituent organisations.
Will the Minister confirm a report in one of today's newspapers that the Government offer is to advance £45 million to the FAI in lieu of the pre-sale of corporate boxes and ten year tickets; if and when the stadium opens in 2005 half of this money, £22.5 million, would have to be paid back to the Government and, in the event of the stadium not going ahead, that the £45 million will remain unclaimed with the FAI?
I wish to give the House as much information as I possibly can regarding these meetings. Our meeting yesterday basically concluded with the FAI agreeing to the request to respond urgently to the proposals after discussing them with its constituent organisations. If it has given a message to newspapers in whatever form they appear, that is a matter for the FAI.
As regards the Government side of the bargain, it was agreed that the FAI would discuss the proposals we put to it yesterday on, I understand, Friday with its constituent organisations and come back to us with a "yes" or "no" answer or further proposals, depending on what are the views of its organisations. The proposals put forward at yesterday's meeting are confidential to us and the FAI. I cannot confirm or deny reports in the newspapers.
Did the Minister or his Department consider the Eircom Park proposal at any stage and did he ever see merit in the proposal?
I believe the Deputy attempted to bring forward a proposal way back when times were hard. However, few men and women have the foresight to bring forward a proposal, as we have brought forward for Campus and Stadium Ireland. This pertains to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and others. I gave Bernard O'Byrne credit for his vision for Eircom Park and for bringing forward the proposal.
I have always told the FAI that we would prefer it as a partner, not as a tenant, in Campus and Stadium Ireland, together with the IRFU, CSID and the Government. This is entirely a matter for the FAI. The proposals put forward to it make financial sense, and I have never had any other opinion. If the FAI decides to go ahead with Eircom Park that is entirely a matter for it.
Will the Minister agree it is totally unacceptable that Deputies, who represent taxpayers, have not been made aware by him of the offer made to the FAI? He has not denied that the statements in today's newspaper report are what are on offer. Will he give us the information, bearing in mind that it is in the public arena? He should officially give the information to Deputies.
Is there any question of compensating the FAI for the money already spent on the development of the Eircom Park proposal and the money lost by the FAI in meeting the objection placed by the Government to the planning permission for Eircom Park?
Following on from what Deputy O'Shea said in relation to the £45 million which is reported in the newspapers, will the Minister confirm or deny it given that this is State funding? Will he confirm if similar offers have been made to the IRFU and the GAA?
I do not like withholding any information from the House but I am in a catch 22 because one makes a deal with those with whom one is negotiating. They agree to bring it back to their organisation and on the basis of that data they will make a decision on whether to join in Sports Campus Ireland. Given that it is a catch 22, I cannot elaborate on it further. Whatever the Deputy reads in the newspapers is entire speculation so far as I am concerned.
Is the Minister denying it?
All issues were discussed with the FAI including the compensation issue but nothing definite has been agreed. I am of the view, and I was supported by others, that if compensation were to be provided on an issue such as this it would set a bad precedent. It is a matter for discussion but compensation along those lines would set a bad precedent. We have had no discussions with the IRFU and the GAA but rest assured I can hear the 'phone ringing and in the interests of sport we will be prepared to enter into negotiations with those other organisations also.
Will the Minister agree that where the Government wilfully obstructed the planning permission by a spurious objection from the Department of Defence, there must be grounds for compensation? In respect of the newspaper report to which I referred, will the Minister say if it is inaccurate?
I did not see the newspaper report so I cannot say whether it is accurate. In any event I could not give that information given that an agreement was made with the FAI yesterday. The Government has nothing to do with obstructing the planning permission. Planning is a separate issue and we have nothing to do with obstructing it. I understand that matter has not yet been decided.
Why did the Minister choose to have discussions with the FAI? Has he any intention of having discussions with all the other sporting organisations in the country that do such good work for young people, athletes and other disciplines?
The reason I chose the FAI is that I have always indicated it would be preferable to have a campus that included all sports. I have always made that clear. Ireland is unique in that it has three major sports which cater for large attendances. Most European countries have only soccer while other countries have soccer and rugby. Ireland is the only country in Europe that has three disciplines of sport which attract large attendances. I will debate the argument with anybody about Croke Park being a national stadium. It is not on for many reasons, one of which is that there are 40,000 people in and around Croke Park. I admire what they have done for Gaelic and hurling and that they have allowed Croke Park to develop. They have made sacrifices in consultation with the Taoiseach, community groups and the GAA and Croke Park has been allowed to flourish to the flagship stadium it is today. We do not have a stadium for soccer or rugby capable of holding the attendances those two sports will require in the future.
Will the Minister clarify the role of OCI in Campus Ireland? Has it been consulted in regard to the Olympic infrastructure on the site?
To date there has been no necessity to involve the Olympic Council of Ireland on the site. That would only occur in the event of Ireland applying for the Olympic Games. I was trying to give an idea of the scale of the project being undertaken and the scale of the facilities involved. For example, if the Olympic Games were to be held here – I am not saying we can have them – the infrastructure would be needed. Athletics account for 50% of Olympic sports. To do that, the stadium would have to be closed for approximately three months to put in the Olympic track.
What about a swimming pool?
The Olympic size swimming pool is already there.
When will it proceed?
We have got the Olympic size standard but the Olympic Council of Ireland is mostly involved with the organisation and administration of the Olympic Games. All the national organisations that have been involved in the Olympic Sports have been consulted.
