Ahern remains committed to stadium

Ireland will remain a third-world sporting country unless it builds a new top-class sports stadium, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today said.

The Taoiseach pledged his commitment to building a stadium in Ireland, saying he will “never give up” on the venture.

Last month the failure of the Irish/Scottish bid to host the 2008 European football championships was blamed by opposition parties on uncertainty over the Republic’s ability to provide adequate stadia.

Although Mr Ahern said Ireland would be able to provide the two required venues he did not specify whether a new Stadium Ireland – dubbed the Bertie Bowl - was part of the provision.

Yet the Taoiseach today pledged the project would definitely go ahead.

“I’m open to proposals,” Mr Ahern told RTE’s This Week programme.

“I still believe this country needs a stadium and I am still involved in the process that was agreed at government, that was agreed in the programme for government, to look at trying to involve private sector involvement.”

He said the venture would only work with involvement from the IRFU and FAI.

“This country will remain a third-world country as far as sport is concerned unless we get a stadium,” the Taoiseach said.

He said he would continue to use his political energies to do everything to provide the stadium, although he admitted the venture would not be his “pet project“.

“I do believe that this country needs a top-class stadium,” he added. “I will never give up on it.”