The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will move today to reassure UEFA that a national stadium in Abbottstown is still on course, despite the decision of the Government not to spend any public money on the project.
Mr Ahern and the Minister for Arts and Sport, Mr O'Donoghue, will meet a UEFA delegation in Government Buildings. The delegation is in Dublin as part of its inspection of the Irish/Scottish joint bid for the 2008 European Championships.
It is understood that the officials will tour the Abbottstown site and Croke Park before meeting the Taoiseach and Mr O'Donoghue in the afternoon.
Mr Ahern will tell the delegation he has requested the GAA to open up Croke Park on a once off basis to allow the venue be used for the finals if Ireland and Scotland are successful in their bid.
He will also say he is confident that the stadium at Abbottstown will be built by private investors. Advertisements seeking submissions and proposals for the development went into national newspapers on Friday.
A Government source said last night that Mr Ahern will tell UEFA that nothing has changed and the Government is still confident of sticking to its commitment to have two stadia available for the finals by 2008.
Meanwhile, soccer and rugby chiefs are expected to meet this week to examine the possibility of joining forces to develop a new 50,000-60,000 all-seater stadium.
They are anxious to explore the possibility of entering into a public private partnership with the Government to build and manage a new stadium at the Abbottstown site. The organisations say they could raise €100 million through the sale of 10-year tickets and corporate boxes.
UEFA is making its decision on the successful applicants for the European Championships on December 13th. Prior to that there is a chance for the bidding countries to make a final 15 minute presentation.
Government sources said there was no question of a housing development land "bonanza" for consortia who may be interested in building a stadium at Abbottstown.
A Department of Sports source said there was no question that valuable tracts of land would be given to prospective developers in turn for building a stadium. "Each proposal will be examined on its merits" he said.
When asked what their position was on giving land in turn for a development, a spokesman for the Progressive Democrats said that each proposal would have to be explored.