Taoiseach says GAA cannot be forced into opening up Croke Park

The Taoiseach said the Government could not force the GAA to open up Croke Park for soccer and rugby games.

Asked by the Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, if the £60 million grant to the organisation was conditional on this happening, Mr Ahern said: "Both the Tanaiste and I know we cannot force those organisations . . . In the discussion on the legal issue, we will make our point clear. We must acknowledge it is a democratic organisation, which must deal with its procedures and we will make those points in our discussion."

Mr Ahern said the GAA and its advisers and technical experts had stated that Croke Park would not, when it was fully developed, be able to host soccer, Gaelic and rugby matches.

"That is not even a likely dream, not to mention an eventual possibility. Senior officials of the GAA have made it absolutely clear to the Government that the ground will not be able to host those matches."

Earlier, as the Taoiseach came under renewed pressure from Mr Quinn and the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, to explain the exact status of the grant, he said: "We cannot force them to do anything. However, the Government will put forward its view that because the State and the taxpayer are expending large amounts of money on sports infrastructure, that infrastructure should be used in as wide a manner as possible.

"It is not always practical that one sporting body can use another's facilities. However, where possible, different sporting organisations should be able to use each other's grounds and there should be no ban in that regard. That is the Government's position. We cannot force organisations to comply, but we have made our views known.

"Croke Park is already used for Gaelic football, hurling, ladies' football and camogie. It will also be used for the Special Olympics and for many other events. It is used extensively for GAA field sports.

"It is the view of the GAA that Croke Park will not be able to be used for other sports. However, that does not mean that other grounds throughout the country cannot be shared on an agreed basis.

"We will state our position, but we cannot force it or make it a precondition. We can only state that is what we think should happen. That is our view, even if there was not a Stadium Ireland."

Mr Pat Rabbitte (Labour, Dublin South West) remarked: "Croke Park gets the money, but the clubs around the country get the games."

Amid heated exchanges, Mr Noonan asked if Mr Ahern had informed the GAA authorities - particularly the president and chairman of the Leinster council, who were both on the record as saying there were no strings attached to the grant - that there were strings attached.

"Has the Taoiseach informed them about this morning's new set of strings, namely, that every GAA ground throughout the country, and not merely Croke Park, will have to host other codes?"

Mr Ahern said the position was the Government had negotiated with the GAA but a legal contract had still to be drawn up with the organisation.

Pressed by Mr Noonan, he said there were some strings attached. "There is a number of issues outstanding, including the standard of the medical research and anti-doping facilities. These issues are very important in sport."

When Mr Louis Belton (FG, Longford Roscommon) asked about funding for the health services, Mr Ahern replied: "We have doubled the amount available to the health services in recent years to £5 billion."