The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, played a crucial role in last Tuesday's decision to provide no State funding to the national stadium.
Mr McCreevy is believed to have sided with the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, on the issue at a private meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, just before Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. Ms Harney argued that as the Government was facing severe political criticism over cutbacks in a range of areas, it could not be seen to have any involvement in funding the stadium.
The Taoiseach had prepared a proposal that the planned National Development Finance Agency would raise funds for the project. However, there are growing Government concerns as to the usefulness of the proposed agency. Faced with the combined view of the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, this idea was abandoned.
The three immediately went into the weekly Cabinet meeting. A number of Ministers contributed to a discussion on the issue, however, it is understood it was clear the decision had effectively already been made in advance. Some of Mr Ahern's officials were surprised by the outcome.
Early on Tuesday morning they believed that the compromise would include some State involvement in funding the project, either through direct Exchequer payments or the National Development Finance Agency.
Labour's Mr Pat Rabbitte said yesterday that Government newspaper advertisements seeking interest from the private sector in building the stadium seemed "deliberately crafted to leave open the prospect of the State gifting 500 acres of land . . . to whomsoever is willing to erect a national stadium".