Vol. 473 No. 4
91 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing difficulties experienced by the Crossmaglen Rangers Gaelic Football Club; and if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement, if any, in this regard. [1137/97]
95 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which he met representatives of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Crossmaglen football club; the progress, if any, which has been made to date with the Northern Ireland authorities on the availability of grant assistance towards the capital development of the club infrastructure and on the long-standing issue of release of requisition grounds and compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 95 together.
Successive Irish Governments have taken a close interest in the affairs of the Crossmaglen Rangers GAA Club and in the specific difficulties caused to the club by the proximity of the joint British/Army RUC base.
I was pleased to receive a delegation from the Crossmaglen club last April and was briefed on their ambitious development proposals, including the provision of improved playing and spectator facilities at the club. Subsequently, I raised the issue of the club's development plans at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 22 May 1996.
My Department had a meeting with officers of the club last September and is due to have a further meeting with the club this week to discuss progress on the project. I await a full report of this meeting which will enable me to consider how best we can continue to assist the club in its development plans.
I will ensure that all issues affecting the club continue to be closely monitored and, where appropriate, will pursue matters raised through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
