Kenny’s claim Ahern misled Dáil rejected

THE Government last night rejected a claim by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern misled the Dáil over the National Aquatic Centre.

Mr Kenny took issue with the Taoiseach’s comments after details from an independent report on the Centre seemed to contradict Mr Ahern’s explanation that damage to the roof was caused by a freak wind storm.

The confidential report, obtained by RTÉ, concluded that damage to the roof was due to the assembly of the roof and could have occurred at normal wind speeds.

Mr Kenny yesterday asserted that Mr Ahern failed to inform the Dáil of this independent report and its conclusions.

Furthermore, he said, Mr Ahern failed to say that the roof decking could have failed in normal wind conditions.

“The Taoiseach was dismissive of legitimate questions raised about the spending of taxpayers’ money.

“His attempt to mislead the House into thinking the damage was solely down to unanticipated wind speeds represents a new low in Government accountability.

“I am calling on the Taoiseach to come into the Dáil to explain why he set out to mislead the House,” he said.

But the Government spokesperson last night dismissed Mr Kenny’s claims saying that the Taoiseach has never been in possession of the report and that the State-appointed management company, Campus and Stadium Ireland Development (CSID), had assured him that its findings were wrong.

CSID is currently involved in a legal dispute with Dublin Waterworld (DWW), the company to which it leased the €62 million centre in 2003.

A High Court action by CSID to terminate the 30-year lease agreement with DWW is continuing. CSID claims that DWW has breached the conditions of the lease on a number of grounds.

It claims that DWW is liable to pay VAT of just over €10 million, a claim that DWW has contested. It also alleges that DWW has failed to properly maintain the centre and further claims that it has failed to pay rent, insurance, or provide audited accounts.

For its part, DWW has signalled its intention of defending itself against all the claims made by CSID.

Mr Ahern told the Dáil this week that he no longer stood over the strong endorsement he gave to Dublin Waterworld two years ago.

The company, he said, did a very good job in Kerry, where it runs a similar operation in Tralee.

“It has not done a good job in this case,” he said.

“This is the reason CSID has brought the company to court. I support the action being taken.”

The roof of the centre was extensively damaged during a freak storm - generating a whirlwind effect - that struck the Clonshaugh and Blanchardstown areas of north west Dublin during the New Year.

The centre was closed for several months while repairs were carried out but is now fully operational. This week, it also emerged that structural defects in the buildings had led to vast quantities of water leaking over a long period.