Stadiums will be ready, vows Ahern

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night said he had not given any legal commitment to build a national stadium in last-ditch efforts to boost the joint Irish-Scottish bid for the 2008 European soccer championships.

But Mr Ahern stressed the Government had done everything possible to support the bid and was certain this country can provide the two required venues if the joint Celtic nations’ bid wins the selection competition today.

The Taoiseach was reacting to reports from Edinburgh that the Government had moved to banish the uncertainty which was seen as the key weakness in the joint bid.