Future of Cork city events centre is questioned
Whips and party leaders from the four main parties, as well as an Independents’ representative, met with acting chief executive Dan Buggy in expectation of an update on the process which hit a major hurdle earlier this month when the proposed operators of the events centre — entertainment giant Live Nation — pulled out citing concerns over funding agreements and penalty clauses.
Those tendering for the project — O’Callaghan Properties (OCP) and BAM/Heineken Ireland — were required to have an operator on board as part of their bids. As a result, OCP did not submit its bid by the July 4 tender deadline. BAM/Heineken Ireland did, raising questions about its validity.
Councillors have repeatedly sought since then to determine the status of the project and had expected a briefing yesterday on foot of Mr Buggy agreeing two weeks ago to come back to them with an update.
However Fine Gael Cllr Des Cahill likened the meeting with Mr Buggy to “a scene from Yes Prime Minister”, with Mr Buggy delivering a one-line statement at the outset and refusing to comment further.
“He said: ‘I’ve two reports in front of me which I’m considering and I’ll get back to you with my considerations’,” a furious Mr Cahill said.
“We’ve been tasked for the last 10 months with producing the recommended choice [of venue for the events centre], but now the inaction of the last 10 months will potentially jeopardise the entire project going ahead, and I say that as a councillor who is normally supportive of the executive,” Mr Cahill said.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Terry Shannon said while he understood there were “some commercial sensitivities” attached to the bids, they wanted the manager to clarify whether the project was in difficulty.
“Really at this stage it’s quite obvious the whole process has been derailed. I think management should show some respect to the elected members who voted to give up to €6m to this project and brief us upfront,” Mr Shannon said.
“Obviously some difficulties have arisen,” Mr Shannon said but there “comes a time when those in charge have to throw their hands in the air and say ‘lads, there’s a problem’.”
Mr Shannon said his understanding was that BAM/Heineken Ireland had been written to and told their bid was invalid because of the absence of an operator. He said he believed the project — to which the government has committed €10m — would now have to go back to the drawing board.
When the Irish Examiner contacted Mr Buggy last night, he said: “I have no further comment to make about that meeting [yesterday’s] at all”.
Mr Shannon said that the next meeting between councillors and City Hall in relation to the events centre would not now take place before September because of people being on holiday leave.
