Vol. 557 No. 5
56 Mr. English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the joint bid between the FAI and the Scottish FA to host the European Championships in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22522/02]
65 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has had discussions with UEFA since the meeting with it on 16 September 2002 regarding the European Championships in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22490/02]
80 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the information available to him on the progress of the proposed joint bid by the FAI and the Scottish FA to host the 2008 European Championships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22491/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 65 and 80 together.
The visit to Ireland by the UEFA inspection team on 16 September last was part of the bidding process for the 2008 European Football Championships. The team visited all 14 of the applicant countries to assess their general suitability for hosting this important event.
The Taoiseach and I met with the team in the course of its visit to convey the support of Government for the joint bid submitted by Ireland and Scotland. That visit was a great success in terms of organisation and in satisfying UEFA's requirements and all the indications are that the Ireland/Scotland joint bid is very much in contention with a good chance of success in December. Subsequent to that visit, the Taoiseach and the Scottish First Minister wrote to UEFA reaffirming the support of the Irish and Scottish Governments for the bid and confirming their commitment to providing all the stadia necessary for the tournament.
I have not had any meetings with UEFA since then and the bid process does not involve my meeting with UEFA before the final decision is made. However, I am aware that the FAI and members of the bid team continue to press its merits in ongoing contacts with the UEFA members involved in the decision-making process. The next milestone in the bid process will be a further presentation on the joint Ireland-Scotland bid by the bid project team to UEFA in Switzerland on 11 December. All the other bidding countries will make similar presentations, after which UEFA's executive committee will meet to consider all the bids and vote on who should host the 2008 finals. The successful bidder will be announced on 12 December.
Does the Minister think it would be an advantage if the Government had a commitment from the GAA that it would provide the Croke Park stadium for this tournament? What type of commitment would be sufficient to satisfy UEFA? Would it also be helpful if the Minister had carried out the process of examining expressions of interest in providing a national stadium and had a more definite line that there were genuinely interested parties in that regard?
The bid is not predicated for success upon us being able to identify the stadia, but obviously it would be of immense benefit if greater clarity could be brought to the situation. Were the GAA to give a favourable indication about the use of Croke Park for the European Championships in 2008, it would certainly benefit the bid. There is no point pretending otherwise. The Deputy will be aware, however, that the GAA congress must meet to make a decision of this magnitude. Nonetheless, I hope there might be some indication forthcoming from the GAA as to the possibility of Croke Park being utilised during the championships. We cannot force that; it is a matter for the GAA.
All Members of the House have outlined, on numerous occasions, the immense benefits which the championships would be to the Irish economy, the future of Irish tourism and the country's sense of place in the sports world. There can be no doubt about that. A greater degree of clarity would be beneficial to the bid. However, the Scottish/Irish bid is in a strong position at this point. I believe it is the best bid on the table.
The main competition comes from the Swiss-Austrian bid which is predicated on the construction of four new stadia. In addition, in Switzerland a referendum must be held in relation to the availability of such land. There are difficulties also with the cost of the proposed stadium in Geneva. It is clear that six facilities will be available in Scotland and so the joint Scottish-Irish bid is in a strong position. We should be able to provide the relevant facilities and in that regard I hope the GAA will be positive.
The Minister stated that the Taoiseach has written to the GAA concerning the request to use Croke Park, but has the Taoiseach emphasised the urgency of receiving a positive reply? We all know that a GAA congress must be held concerning this matter but, given the circumstances, time is of the essence. We should know where we stand before the assessment takes place rather than being in a grey area concerning the new national stadium and Croke Park. I welcome the Minister's statement that we are in a strong position concerning the bid to host the European football championships in 2008, but we would be in a far stronger position if at least one stadium had been decided upon before UEFA's assessment of the applications takes place. Have the Taoiseach or the Minister specified a date by which the GAA should reply to the request?
All the residents associations in the area surrounding Croke Park have a major role to play in the application. I hope they will be kept on side as the relevant information becomes available. Has the Taoiseach set specific dates and has the Minister met with the GAA and the residents associations to discern whether they agree with these developments?
The GAA is well aware that UEFA is meeting in December and that the presentation of the Scottish-Irish bid takes place on 11 December. The association is also aware that a decision on the final destination of the European championships for 2008 will be made on 12 December. I have attended at least one meeting between the GAA and the Taoiseach. Deputy Wall referred to the benefits which have been clearly outlined. I thank him for his support for the bid.
Given the recent media furore over the FAI's management review, the resignation of a senior FAI official and the retirement of Mick McCarthy, does the Minister envisage taking a more hands-on role in the delivery of the Scottish-Irish project, particularly as the FAI is under pressure? Will the Minister be going to Switzerland himself?
No, I will not be going to Switzerland myself.
He is away too much. I am making all his presentations.
I have to mind my constituents as well. The management of football in Ireland is a matter for the FAI and any Minister would be extremely foolish to become involved in it. To be fair to the FAI, it has worked hard on this bid. It put forward a cogent case and has been supported at all times by myself and my predecessor, and in particular by the Taoiseach over a longer period. The Government is fully committed to the bid. Both the Taoiseach and I met with UEFA and we outlined to that association our total support for the joint Scottish-Irish bid. The Taoiseach and the Scottish First Minister wrote to UEFA outlining their commitment, indicating our wish to provide the necessary facilities for holding the 2008 championships. I am not sure we can advance the matter beyond that.
The question of providing stadia sometimes overrides the passion for sport which is evident in large measure both here and in Scotland. Irish and Scottish football fans have been acclaimed worldwide for their good behaviour and sportsmanship. Ireland and Scotland can guarantee an audience in the stadia in excess of 1.7 million for the 2008 games, and few other countries could achieve that. We can go further and almost underwrite the fact that this will be achieved without violence.
In view of the goodwill that has been expressed on all sides of the House, it is unfortunate that an all-party approach to our bid was not adopted at the beginning. It would have helped. There may be some benefit in sending an all-party group of Irish and Scottish parliamentary representatives to Switzerland to support the presentation.
The Minister may or may not be aware of the soccer match that will take place here on Sunday between a team from the Oireachtas and the Scottish Parliament. It would be a good gesture if the Minister was to tog out on that occasion. The Minister's attendance at the match would be the greatest expression the House could make in support of our application to host the 2008 tournament. The Scottish Parliament is enthusiastic about the match and is sending representatives to play here in Dublin. Such unity of purpose could ensure that we will host the 2008 competition.
I sincerely hope Deputy Deenihan is asking me to turn out as opposed to togging out.
We are all togging out.
I did not have the benefit of Mick O'Dwyer's training for over a decade. I wish Deputy Deenihan well with the game and I have no doubt that he will be one of the fittest men on the team.
It would be churlish of me not to acknowledge that there has been all-party support for the bid, particularly among Opposition spokespersons who have expressed their support throughout the process. I do not believe that a late intervention by a political deputation would be of any benefit to the bid. UEFA acknowledges that there is all-party support for the bid and that the country generally is behind the bid, as are the people of Scotland.
Do the criteria for the bid envisage providing four stadia in Scotland and two in Ireland or is there some leeway whereby Scotland could provide an extra stadium?
As I understand it, Ireland would host one group, as well as some of the quarter-finals and a semi-final.
Eight games.
We would have eight games in all and it is anticipated that they would be divided four and four. In reality, therefore, the request to the GAA is not to open up Croke Park for rugby, soccer or cricket, but to make the stadium available for four international football matches in the year 2008. Most people would agree that it is a fairly reasonable request. We are not asking anybody to concede any principle or to accept that one sport might encroach upon another. All we are asking is for the stadium to be made available for four games in 2008. Objectively, I can perfectly understand it when I view sports in Ireland and elsewhere competing with one another for young people. It is perhaps not acknowledged often enough that sports have common enemies in drugs and alcohol.
