The Progressive Democrats are claiming victory in the Government row over the £60 million promised to the GAA for Croke Park, with party sources saying it will now be conditional on the stadium opening up to other sports.
As the GAA insisted yesterday that an unconditional grant was "a done deal", the Taoiseach and Tanaiste agreed this was not the case. A spokesman for the Taoiseach last night indicated a substantial shift. "If we are putting all this money into the facilities, in return for that we want to see these facilities shared," the spokesman said.
A PD source was blunter: "We've got what we want on this one", said one. "We wanted any money to be tied to the wider use of Croke Park and it will be." The GAA insisted its talks with the Government had never been linked to the use of Croke Park for other sports. It had "a clear and firm commitment in regard to funding", a statement said. The GAA Leinster Council chairman, Mr Seamus Aldridge, said it was "a done deal". And the president of the GAA, Mr Sean McCague, said he expected "the Government will honour its commitments".
However, PD sources say the Government will now make the grant conditional on the association voting to open Croke Park to rugby and soccer. Another vote cannot take place until next year. Government sources said the £60 million is to be paid over three years, so most of the grant could depend on a rule change.
The Taoiseach and Tanaiste agreed a strategy before yesterday's Cabinet meeting to defuse the tense dispute. Mr Ahern apologised to the Dail yesterday for not telling Ms Harney he had agreed to give the GAA the £60 million. He confirmed the plan had not been cleared by Cabinet.
"Our colleagues in Government did not have the full facts . . . The final offer was not clear, and certainly was not clear to the Tanaiste."
The Taoiseach and Tanaiste also agreed yesterday - at Ms Harney's request, according to PD sources - to two significant measures to monitor the costs of the Stadium Ireland project. Amid concern over spiralling costs, they have asked the Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid, to prepare a memorandum for Government detailing the financial arrangements being made with the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI arising from their agreement to support the national stadium. They also agreed to set up what Mr Ahern described in the Dail as "an external overview of the Stadium Ireland project". This, he said, is "to ensure it works and to take account of the cost implications and the ancillary costs, such as access infrastructure and the strategies to manage the ongoing operating costs".