Vol. 537 No. 4
2 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the Government, or any agents acting on its behalf, will enter into contracts in relation to Sports Campus Ireland pending the passage into law of the promised Stadium Ireland Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16387/01]
It is not intended that contracts for the designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining of facilities for Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland, other than that with the preferred bidder for the aquatic and leisure centre, will be signed in advance of the independent overview of the costs of the project. Following consideration of the consultants' report the Government will decide on the way forward.
Campus and Stadium Ireland Development – CSID – the company which was established last year to oversee the planning and development of Sports Campus Ireland has already signed a contract relating to the provision of executive services and entered a commitment, leading to contracts, in relation to the architectural and environmental framework plan and other related services. The process for the appointment of project managers, currently under way, is also expected to be finalised in the near future.
Accordingly, given the time frame for the legislation, it is likely that contracts may be signed in advance of the Bill being enacted. There will, of course, be provisions for transitional arrangements in the Bill to ensure the continuity of activities initiated before its enactment.
From what the Minister has said, I understand that until the independent audit has been completed no further contracts will be signed. It had been envisaged that the Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland Bill would be published mid-year. That has now been put back to the end of the year. The fact that full contractual statutory powers are not available to the company must inhibit the progress of the project. If a totally negative independent audit result comes back, will the Government review the whole project against that background?
There seems to be a continual move to dampen down the magnificent scheme of Stadium and Sports Campus Ireland. I gave a commitment to the House that the heads of the Bill would be circulated before the end of May. If that is not already done, it is in the process of being done today.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, it will not hold up the process. There has been nothing other than negative comments from the other side of the House on this sports campus project. I am delighted to have the overview because all the positive aspects of the project will also be highlighted. I look forward to receiving that report.
It is not worth responding to the Minister throwing negative darts at this side of the House. There is no substance to that. The Government has agreed to review the project, so there must be doubts within Government as to its viability. I hope a proper audit will be carried out which should include items like the add ons, as Paddy Teahon calls them. These include the cost of the land, the relocation of the laboratories of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and the Marine Institute. Is the Minister satisfied that an 80,000 seat stadium is appropriate for the project? Is there a national requirement for a second 80,000 seat stadium?
I do believe we need another 80,000 seat stadium. We certainly need another stadium. It has been clearly pointed out that we cannot possibly use Croke Park as a national stadium. It is impossible to play soccer, rugby and Gaelic games there so we certainly need another stadium. Soccer has no home of its own at the moment. The IRFU cannot possibly manage all its rugby games. For the match against Portugal on Saturday, we could fill a stadium for 70,000 people, if we had it, and that is only a qualifying match for the world cup. Negotiations are also in progress with Scotland with regard to the European championship in 2008. Many things are possible if we have the infrastructure, but if we do not provide that now when times are prosperous, we will never do it.
With regard to other part of the Deputy's question, I will deal with that when I come to answer another question later.
The figure the Minister used in relation to the soccer match at the weekend is like various other figures which have been used by the Government in relation to this project.
The whole country wants to be involved.
The time is up. We have to move on to Question No. 3.
