Public won’t be informed of Croker discussions

THE GAA, IRFU and the FAI have moved to take the Croke Park debate off the agenda in a bid to conduct their delicate negotiations away from the public glare.

In a joint statement issued yesterday, the three bodies confirmed that discussions are now underway for rugby and soccer internationals to be played at Croke Park in 2007.

A number of meetings are understood to have been held to tease out the finer points of the deal, but sources say talks about the financial cost to the FAI and IRFU are only in the early stages.