Ahern denies pessimism over Lansdowne Road

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern denied in the Dáil tonight that he was pessimistic over the €290m redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte accused Mr Ahern of being negative about the 50,000 stadium and claimed he was still obsessed with the ’Bertie Bowl’ proposal in Abbotstown which he dubbed his “vanity project” and a “mirage“.