The government-backed Irish Infrastructure Fund (IIF) has been selected as the preferred bidder for the landmark Convention Centre in the Dublin Docklands.

THE state awarded the contract to build and operate the new National Convention Centre in Dublin at a cost of €416 million, despite receiving a bid for about €200m less.

THE company constructing the €380 million Dublin Convention Centre is part of a group relying on banks to rollover repayments on loans.