Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
66 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has made contact with the GAA on the matter of opening Croke Park to a greater variety and number of sports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31469/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra91 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on recent comments (details supplied) that any decision to open up Croke Park to other sports would depend on further funding from Government; if he has had any discussions with the association in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31418/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 91 together.
It has always been my position that the use of Croke Park is a matter for the GAA. Accordingly, at no stage have I sought to dictate to the association as to how it ought conduct its business. It would be counterproductive were I to attempt to do so. Nevertheless, I am encouraged by the recent statement by the president of the GAA which make it clear that it is the intention of the association to deliberate in a responsible and mature manner on the complex issues involved.
I am also pleased to confirm that the Government will before the end of the current financial year release the further payment of €40 million promised to the GAA to alleviate the debt burden associated with the redevelopment of Croke Park. It will bring the level of the Exchequer contribution for the development of Croke Park to €110 million. I reiterate that there are no side conditions relating to the opening up of Croke Park attached to this grant.
It is fascinating to hear the Minister state he would not, in any way, become involved in internal GAA matters——
Throw the ball in.
——when he has advised the FAI on how to appoint a chief executive. Will he explain the difference between the GAA and the FAI? Are they both autonomous bodies——
There is no offside in the GAA.
——or is the Government running the FAI? I remind Deputy Cassidy that I am addressing my comments to the Minister who appears intent on appointing the chief executive of the FAI or telling that organisation how it should proceed in that regard. At the same time, however, he has repeatedly stated in the House that he will not become involved in deciding what will happen in respect of Croke Park. There is a contradiction in that regard. I am sure the Minister will join me in supporting the president of the GAA in his public statement that he favours the opening up of Croke Park to other sports.
Does the Deputy have a question for the Minister? This is Question Time.
Will the Minister join me in supporting our fellow countyman in calling for the opening up of Croke Park?
As regards Deputy Deenihan's first question about the difference between the FAI and the GAA, I am not sure whether he posed it from a theological or philosophical perspective. Either way, I will not attempt to answer it.
Are they two autonomous bodies? Does Fianna Fáil own the FAI? The Minister is behaving as if he owns it. In fairness to the GAA——
Order, please.
There are people in the FAI who believe the Minister owns the association. Has he bought it out?
Fianna Fáil exercises no ownership rights over the FAI and I am certain the association exercises no ownership rights over my party either. It is not a question of people dictating to the FAI but of the association adhering to a report compiled after the most recent World Cup. The recommendations set out in that report have not yet been but must be implemented. The simple answer to the question as to whether this would arise in respect of the GAA is that such a situation has not arisen in respect of that organisation. I am merely asking the FAI to implement the Genesis report. That is perfectly reasonable and I do not believe anyone in the House, including the Deputy, will disagree with me.
I have outlined my position on Croke Park on several occasions. The question as to whether the venue should be opened up to other sports remains, in the final analysis, one to be answered by the GAA congress. The GAA must make a decision in accordance with its rules and I will allow it to do so.
Will the Minister join me in supporting the president of the GAA?
There are two issues here, namely, first, the opening up of Croke Park and, second, what will happen as regards international soccer matches during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road. I fully support the opening up of Croke Park during the period in which Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped. I will support the Minister in any action he takes in asking the GAA to ensure Croke Park is opened up during the period in question. I do not believe it is within our remit, or that of the Minister, to tell the GAA what to do. That organisation will do what it wants to do when the congress is held in April.
I ask the Minister to continue to make representations to the GAA. Has he engaged in any further meetings with the association in recent days, particularly in view of the fact that, instead of being given in the form of two payments, the €40 million in funding will now be given in one tranche? Has he had any further meetings with the president of the GAA, Seán Kelly, in respect of this matter or has there been any change in the Government's attitude towards the association in respect of the opening up of Croke Park during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road?
Deputy Wall has identified an important point regarding the position of the FAI and the IRFU during the period, mid-2006 to approximately the end of 2008, in which Lansdowne Road will inevitably be closed. It would be a great pity if international rugby and soccer matches were played outside the country. I sincerely hope — as a matter of national dignity, if nothing else — this will not happen. Deputy Wall's comments were, as always, sensible. The GAA will take whatever decision it sees fit in its own time. The Deputy and I have been in agreement about this for a long period. I see no reason to change that view at this stage. Let us hope the issue can be resolved. I suggest we await developments in that regard.
The Minister is obviously aware that he has shown a certain nuance in his dealings with the various bodies. Diplomacy is always one method of getting one's way in the end. Will the Minister acknowledge, given the importance of maintaining a ground in Ireland for the forthcoming international matches, that this is an urgent matter? The president of the GAA has spoken in favour of Croke Park as a venue for other sports and many GAA members are of this opinion. The Minister will be aware that to treat the GAA in a heavy-handed manner would be to risk uproar. I congratulate him for not doing so. Will he acknowledge that a positive statement from him stating he would welcome a once-off gesture from the GAA regarding the forthcoming international matches may help to support those GAA clubs in my constituency and around the country which are pushing to have Croke Park opened up to gain additional revenue for the GAA? It would be a positive rather than a negative development if the Minister made a public statement but in a non-confrontational manner.
My personal position is well known. While I favour the opening up of Croke Park by the GAA to other games on specified occasions, I have always qualified this by stating it is a matter for the GAA in the final analysis. I advise the Deputy that I was chairperson of my local GAA club, a great club, for a number of years and that I like to think I understand the GAA. In fact, I will go further and say that in a two year period as chairman of my local club I think I made more enemies than in 17 years in national politics.
Is the Minister sure of that?
That might give the Deputy some indication of the difficulty in which the GAA might find itself.
I will leave it to its own devices. They are grown adults, know what the situation is and what the requirements are. Perhaps they know what the public's wish is but it is an independent organisation and I will let it make its own decision.
