Euro 2008: Scottish-Irish bid blocked

Hopes of a joint Scottish-Irish bid for the Euro 2008 soccer championships were in question tonight with claims of a dispute within the Government.

According to reports the Progressive Democrats are refusing to sign a letter to the Scottish Executive committing to the bid.

The party is understood to oppose signing up to a bid which would make the building of a new national stadium in Ireland inevitable.

Controversy has raged over proposals for the stadium - dubbed ‘‘Bertie Bowl’’ - amid spiralling costs.

The two nations must inform football’s world governing body Fifa by Thursday if they intend to bid for the contest.

But Today FM quoted sources claiming that the Progressive Democrats leader and Tanaiste, Mary Harney, is refusing to commit her party to a bid which promises the building of the Bertie Bowl.

The stadium, to accompany Lansdowne Road, would be vital to the bid, allowing Ireland to provide two match venues to accompany Scotland’s six.

The only alternative would be the re-development of Dublin’s Croke Park, but the GAA refuses to allow it to be used for any sport other than gaelic games.

The Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation dismissed the latest reports as ‘‘speculation’’.

And a spokesman for Ms Harney said: ‘‘The Government is considering the bid at the moment and we are not going to say anything ahead of the Government.’’

Both promised that the Government’s decision would be made by Thursday at the latest.

Sceptics have previously suggested that the bid was doomed and that Ireland would not have two stadiums ready on time.

And with an approaching general election, expected to be held in May, opposition parties could potentially soon be in power and scrap the project.

However, Scotland’s sports minister Mike Watson, on a recent visit to Dublin, said he was ‘‘very much reassured’’ that the two countries would be in a position to take their ‘‘only chance ever’’ to host the contest.

An attempt by Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan to quiz Mr Ahern on the issue in the Dáil this afternoon was ruled out of order by the speaker.