National stadium - Ahern left red-faced over decision

THE question people are asking today is why the Government squandered so much time and money dragging out the Bertie Bowl project, especially following yesterday’s decision to press ahead with a €300 million stadium at a revamped Lansdowne Road venture, as opposed to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s preferred option for a €1 billion extravaganza at Abbottstown.

Considering that a consultant’s report shot holes in Mr Ahern’s pet project two years ago, why did the country have to wait until now for a final decision?

Once the PDs got into bed with Fianna Fáil, Mr Ahern’s dream became a nightmare. In no way could the self-appointed guardians of fiscal and moral rectitude justify spending €1bn of taxpayers’ hard-earned money on a scheme famously described by PD president Michael McDowell as worthy of the “Ceaucescu era”.