A project even more puzzled

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS one — Fianna Fáil nil.

It goes without saying that both parties will carp at this crude analysis of the first internal tussle between the two governing parties in the re-constituted Coalition. But it is the simple truth.

The stakes were very high for the PDs. Portraying themselves in the election as the Government’s on-site minders, the National Stadium project was one of their major practical examples.

PD president Michael McDowell raised an already high bar by comparing the stadium plans with the vain-glorious projects of despots Mussolini and Ceaucescu. Mr McDowell managed handily enough less than a month later to slip into the Cabinet of that most unlikely vain-glorious despot, Bertie Ahern.

But signing off on the National Stadium would be a far less handy prospect for the PDs. All the talk these days about cutbacks, or reductions in the rate of increase in Government expenditure if you prefer, however, was playing heavily in their favour.

But this involved no small matter of pride either for Mr Ahern. It was always unfair to dub the project the Bertie Bowl. But that moniker did add to perceived pride and personal interest that the sports-loving Taoiseach had invested in having a National Stadium.

Up to Monday, Mr Ahern was still giving a clear signal the stadium would proceed and a deal would be struck with the PDs allowing an honourable compromise. There was much talk in the background about the need to involve private enterprise in the project, but everyone was given to understand it would stay a Government project.

Last evening’s announcement came as a major surprise. In essence the only Government role now will be to remain as landlord of the site at Abbotstown and keep a long-distance eye on private proposals.

The immediate result of this will be felt next Monday. The European football authority inspectors from UEFA are due in Dublin to assess Ireland’s pledge to provide two stadiums in the joint Scottish-Irish bid for the 2008 championships. UEFA spokesman Mike Lee said on Monday that they require clarity as to proposed venues.

In practice they will find problems associated with all three potential grounds. The newly-refurbished GAA HQ is subject to a ban on so-called foreign games; the IRFU say they will not make necessary modifications resulting in reduced capacity at Landsdowne Road without a guarantee on a bigger national stadium; and private backers are only now being sought for that national stadium.

Much now depends on the GAA undergoing a Pauline conversion and voting a rule change to allow soccer at Croke Park. Mr Ahern launched an effective plea to them yesterday and we must wait on them.

Mr Ahern’s critics have grounds for arguing he has really come out the wrong end of clever machinations aimed at driving a stadium at Abbotstown. It was the Taoiseach’s intervention with some 20m in grants which saw the FAI abandon plans for their own stadium. A similar eve of 2001 GAA Congress pledge of 75m in grants was followed by the narrowest of defeats for a rule change to allow soccer at Croke Park.

The handling of the preparatory work for the stadium by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd was, to put it kindly, ill-starred and accident prone. So, again crudely put, the outcome leaves the FAI enraged, the IRFU frustrated and puzzled, and the GAA in its strongest position ever. And then people say sport isn't political.