Fianna Fáil has dropped its commitment to build the full Campus and Stadium Ireland project at Abbotstown, pledging only to build a national stadium costed at €400 million.
The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, yesterday confirmed this new position, following the blistering attack by the Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, on the Sports Campus project, which could cost €1 billion. In Galway, the Taoiseach said he would have "no problem" with a smaller scheme.
It is now clear the issue will not stand in the way of the formation of a new Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats coalition. Although the PDs have robustly opposed the full project, neither Mr McDowell nor Ms Harney have ruled out a new stadium being built at a much reduced cost.
Mr McDowell suggested that proceeding with the scheme would be immoral when there were hospitals and schools to be built.
"We are committed to the national stadium," Mr McCreevy told a press conference yesterday. However, he made it clear Fianna Fáil would consider proposals to reduce the size of the stadium from the proposed 80,000-seater arena and that it was not committing itself in this campaign to the other elements of the campus, such as the indoor arena, velodrome and golf academy.
"The question of the other add-ons" was being examined, he said, but the party was not committed in this election campaign to building them. It was , however, committed to developing them "over time" subject to examination.
He said the cost of the stadium would be that stated in the High Point Rendel (HPR) report on the Sports Campus Ireland project, commissioned by the Government at the insistence of the Progressive Democrats. That report costed the 80,000-seater stadium at €406 million, a figure which would be likely to rise from expected cost overruns, but would in turn be reduced significantly if the stadium was scaled down in size.
The Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid, last night confirmed that "we are not opposed to downsizing the stadium following consultations with the major sporting organisations". Therefore, the final cost might be lower than that in the HPR report, he said.
Mr McCreevy has now clarified the commitment in the Fianna Fáil manifesto which states: "We will start work on the construction at Abbotstown of a world-class national stadium that meets the needs of the three main sporting organisations. We also remain committed to the development of a range of other top-class facilities at Abbotstown." The "commitment" to the other facilities is aspirational and not firm.
Campaigning in Galway yesterday, the Taoiseach dismissed Mr McDowell's attack as "over the top". He understood that Mr McDowell was "fighting hard" for a seat in the election campaign.However, he also said he had "no problem" with a smaller facility if this was what the national sporting bodies wanted.
Limerick East TD Mr Des O'Malley yesterday supported Mr McDowell in his trenchant criticism, describing the project as "silly". The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, also reaffirmed her opposition.
Mr O'Malley, who is retiring from politics, said he was opposed to it because there were existing facilities and proposed facilities which would serve the same function. "I think it's just silly, quite honestly."
He was canvassing with Ms Harney in his home city for his cousin, Cllr Tim O'Malley. He said he had noticed a lot of opposition to the "Bertie Bowl" on doorsteps in Dublin where he had been canvassing.
"I did not think it would be as strong in Dublin as it is, but it is very strong. Even in the area where the thing is being proposed for, they are very much opposed to it."
Ms Harney said investment was needed in recreational sport at local level. "Certainly the country cannot, in my view, afford in the foreseeable future to spend €1 billion on a project of that kind."
Asked if she would refuse to go into government with Fianna Fáil if it was intent on pursuing the project, she said she was not into imposing vetoes. Mr Ahern would not go into negotiations on an absolute position either. It was not his style, she said.
Asked if she agreed with the Attorney General's comments that Abbotstown would be a "Ceausescu-era Olympic project", she said there was "a unique Michael McDowell way of saying things".