National Stadium Report.

22. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has received a copy of the report on the development of a national stadium carried out by the Government appointed feasibility group. [24259/99]

23. Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if the Government has received the report of the feasibility study on the possible development of a national sports stadium; if so, if it has considered the study; the main findings of the study; the plans, if any, to publish the study; when a final decision will be made on the stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24749/99]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid): I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 23 and 105 together.

A feasibility study on the development of a national stadium was commissioned by the stadium steering committee, established by the Government under the chairmanship of Mr. Derek Keogh, to conduct the study and to make recommendations based on the findings of the study.

Following a tendering process carried out under EU procurement directives and Government contracts procedures a consortium of consultants led by PricewaterhouseCoopers was commissioned by the committee to conduct a full feasibility study. This study was to cover a range of issues relevant to developing and operating an 80,000 seat sports stadium, including development costs; economic, social and other benefits; potential demand for use of the facilities from various sporting bodies, entertainment and other commercial categories; and to discuss possible locations for the stadium.

I understand the feasibility study has now been completed and presented to the stadium steering committee and that it will be brought to Government for consideration and decision at an early date. The question of the publication of the study will be considered at that time.

Mr. Allen: I am surprised to hear the same response as was given on 13 October. We were told then that the feasibility study had been finalised and would be with the Government shortly. One month and a half later the Minister still has not received the study. Does the Minister have the final cost of the feasibility study and has he reconsidered his position regarding the cost of the stadium which has been estimated at £300 million? Has he balanced the cost of this national stadium against the nationwide needs for top-class modern facilities such as 25 metre pools and all-weather facilities? Does the Minister think it would be better to spend our resources on upgrading our facilities nationwide rather than duplicating or triplicating stadium facilities, especially in view of the development of Croke Park and of the FAI stadium in west Dublin.

Dr. McDaid: I have given the cost of the feasibility study on a number of occasions. I think it cost approximately £380,000 but I can check that for the Deputy. On the last occasion, the Deputy complained about having a feasibility study in the first place. We did a feasibility study because one had never been done on this subject before. We have been talking about it for ten years. We will bring that to Cabinet shortly and I am hopeful of the outcome.

In regard to the cost versus need issue, the Deputy mentioned swimming pools. Only £3 million per year had been provided towards swimming pools up to now but this year we are increasing that to £15 million per year. Those matters are ongoing.

Mr. Allen: I am aware of that because it was our Private Members' motion the Minister agreed with.

Dr. McDaid: In regard to the other costs, there are £32 million worth of commitments to build facilities around the country, which both the Deputy and I made. I wish they would send me the invoices because I have the money and I am willing to pay them. There is money available if they would send in the invoices. This was a small price to pay for a feasibility study, which it is necessary to have before such major decisions are taken.

Mr. O'Shea: In regard to the stadium, what sporting events, other then GAA events, attract anywhere near an attendance of 80,000? How was the figure of 80,000 arrived at? Given that the FAI's representation on the stadium steering committee was on the basis that it was going ahead with its own project, has the whole area become a total mess? What exactly is happening? We hear that something will go to Government in the near future. Has there been any preliminary report back from the steering committee? Is anyone talking to the Minister about this project at the moment?

Dr. McDaid: With the exception of a leak - he who leaks always tries to benefit from it - that is all that is available to us at the moment. It will be discussed at Cabinet shortly. I assure the Deputy I look forward to proposing and encouraging it, as I am sure he would.

The Deputy raised the issue of what sporting events would take place in a national stadium. All sports would be eligible to participate. I take the Deputy's point that not many events would fill the stadium. A certain number of events are needed to make it viable initially. However, let us walk before we run. For example, why can we not look to the future? As the Deputy is aware, sport is becoming a major business, with Sky television coverage of Manchester United worth £600 billion. Sport is becoming bigger and bigger, with more people being attracted to it. Let us be futuristic about this. Ireland needs a stadium. I would like the European Cup final to be played here one day, which brings in £2 billion for one match. However, unless we have the facility we will never be at the races, so to speak.

I have always wished the FAI well with its stadium. It continues to advertise and promote its stadium. I will continue to back this idea also. There may be negative points about it in the feasibility study but there is also a huge number of positive points about it. I hope we will all be encouraged to back it when we come to that point. The FAI stadium and the feasibility study on one, two or three stadiums are up for discussion and will be in the public arena shortly.

Dr. McDaid: Lest another story starts, I am not promulgating any European league or anything like it. The donor, J. P. McManus, has offered us a very substantial amount of money, a gift to the nation. His only stipulation is that it must be a state-of-the-art stadium. He described it as a visionary statement for the next generation. There are no strings attached.

Mr. Allen: I believe in Santa Claus too.

Mr. O'Shea: The FAI has managed to put the funding together for its project from its own sources. Does the Minister have an approximate figure for how much State money will go into this project if it goes ahead? I take it he is giving the House a categoric assurance that this will

not be a commercial venture. I would like an undertaking that any profits accruing from the stadium will be ploughed back into sport at grassroots level.

Dr. McDaid: I did not give any such undertaking about commercial ventures or otherwise. That point has not even arisen at this stage. The FAI has gone ahead and undertaken its own fundraising. It has not asked the Government for anything towards its stadium. Much of the funding raised by the FAI is dependent on a stadium being built. The estimated cost of this stadium could be between £200 million and £300 million.

Tourism Industry.

24. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to achieve a better spatial distribution of tourists. [24260/99]

Dr. McDaid: Since becoming Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, one of my top priorities has been to facilitate a more balanced seasonal and regional spread of tourism revenues. The recently published national development plan has, as one its core objectives, the fostering of balanced regional development. This has particular relevance to the tourism sector which will receive, under the plan, in excess of £350 million for tourism marketing, product development and training over the next seven years.

During this period, the strategy for tourism product development will be based on the needs of areas, having regard to whether they are developed, developing or undeveloped. One of the main priorities for funding will be to support sustainable proposals to build up an interesting mix of tourism products or, as has been pointed out, regional "clusters" of attractions and facilities in prioritised developing or still undeveloped areas.

The key marketing objectives in tourism over the next seven years, under the national development plan, are to increase tourism revenue and per diem visitor yield and to help industry achieve a wider seasonal and regional distribution of tourist revenue, thereby contributing to sustainable development goals.

The regional marketing objectives can be partially fulfilled by Bord Fáilte through destination promotion and will be supplemented by specific measures that can provide leverage in attracting visitors to specific regions, for example, encouragement and support for special niche products which benefit particular areas.

Growth in tourism over the past ten years has been unprecedented, with visitor numbers to Ireland doubling to 5.7 million and foreign exchange earnings tripling to £2.3 billion. It is important to recognise that all regions have shared in this growth. However, there has been some variation in performance in particular due to international industry trends such as the growth in short breaks and urban tourism.

Ultimately, it is the prerogative of the visitor to determine where he or she spends a holiday. Many factors influence such decisions. However, I am satisfied that tourism policies, which fall under my responsibility, have not contributed to an imbalance in the spatial distribution of visitors.

Mr. Allen: Does the Minister agree that 25% of all visitors in 1998 stayed in the greater Dublin area and that this indicates overcrowding? Does he also agree that while Dublin has enjoyed double digit growth in recent years, the performance in other parts of the country has been poor to patchy? The Minister used the words, "the prerogrative of the visitor". Does he agree that the visitor has little choice when it takes between four and five hours to travel to Sligo or Kerry by train? Is there co-ordination of the efforts of the Department and others to ensure tourists visit the regions? I tabled a question on access to the regions but the Minister claimed that he had no responsibility in the matter.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy cannot refer to a question which has been disallowed.

Mr. Allen: Access to the regions is the key to spatial distribution.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is now making a statement.

Dr. McDaid: An enormous number of visitors have been magnetised to the east coast, Dublin in particular. We are all Irish and Dublin is our capital city. We have all benefited enormously from the destination marketing in which we have engaged. The Deputy is correct, access is a key factor. One cannot go abroad however and tell a tourist where they should stay. It is up to him or her-----

Mr. Allen: They should be encouraged.

Dr. McDaid: We have been doing so successfully. Short breaks have been a feature of the market in recent years. Many now take a weekend break in Dublin. As the Deputy is well aware cities such as Paris, Rome, Berlin and Dusseldorf have become very congested with the result that many would prefer to visit the regions where they can be alone. They must first be targeted. Ireland can become what I call the antidote to European stress. While I agree with the Deputy that lack of access is a problem, sometimes we are inclined to talk it up too much. I recall that in trying to attract industry to the Border counties we always had the poor hand saying, "We have nothing, please come".

Mr. Allen: They have plenty; what they need is tourists.

Dr. McDaid: The problem is that after a while we tend to be believed and we do ourselves a disservice by continuing to talk about it. Major emphasis is placed in the national development plan on infrastructural improvements which should result in improved access. When the first national development plan was introduced we were broke while the emphasis in the second was on employment.

Mr. Allen: Tourist operators are looking for a fair break.

Area Based Partnerships.

25. Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the future of area based partnerships; when new social inclusion measures will be agreed with the European Commission; the provision, if any, made under the national development plan for the continued operation of the partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24750/99]

102. Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of estate management committees that the uncertainty of future funding for partnership companies could put their work at risk; the plans, if any, the Government has to address this issue and secure the future of these initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24642/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Mr. Flood): I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 102 together.

The current programmes under the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development have made significant achievements in combating disadvantage and it is the Government's intention that the new national development plan will build further on these successes.

Under the new national development plan £420 million has been provided to continue and augment the valuable work done and activities engaged in by the area based partnership companies and community groups, local drug task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund. This provision represents a 50% increase over the levels of expenditure available to the existing programmes in these fields. This £420 million is the largest single allocation from the £1 billion earmarked for expenditure under the regional operation programmes in a special subprogramme for social inclusion.

This significant increase in funding is a clear expression of the Government's confidence in the value of the work done under these programmes. On 3 December I will meet PLANET, the representative body of the area based partnership companies, to discuss the future of the area based partnership programmes. The proposed areas for Structural and Cohesion Fund co-financing are outlined in the national development plan pending agreement with the European Commission. As the plan stands the social inclusion measures under the aegis of my Department will be fully supported by the Exchequer.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: I will give the Minister of State notice of some of the questions that he will be asked by PLANET in Athlone on 3 December. Following publication of the national development plan the area based partnership companies are greatly concerned. They are very disappointed that they are not specifically mentioned in the plan like other groups such as the county and city development boards, local drug task forces and Leader companies. Is there something that we are not being told about their future? What role will they play in urban and rural areas? Will they continue to operate in the areas currently covered by them or is this under review? When will the guidelines for the new operational programmes be issued and will the area based partnership companies be consulted for their views?

Mr. Flood: There is no intention on the part of the Government to diminish the areas of responsibility of the area based partnership companies which have done outstanding work under the current plan which is coming to an end. They have been extremely successful. They should take account of the fact that there has been a 50% increase in the funding available to them which is to be underwritten by the Exchequer and is reflected in the Estimates for next year. Their position has therefore been strengthened. I expect to them to play an increasing role in the programme to tackle social exclusion in the areas currently covered by them.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: They are not mentioned specifically in the national development plan. Why not?

Mr. Flood: There is no specific reason. So far as the Government is concerned they will continue to play a significant role. I will deal with any concerns they may have when I meet their representative body, PLANET, on 3 December. I will also discuss with it the best means by which they can continue to be centrally involved in tackling social exclusion.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: If the Minister is saying that the area based partnership companies need have no fears, why have they not received clarification or direction to enable board members, staff and the local communities concerned plan for the future? I have placed this matter on the agenda each time the Minister of State has answered questions in recent months and the position has still not been clarified. I have a difficulty in that they are not specifically mentioned in the national development plan. Will the Minister of State give an assurance that they will continue to operate in the areas currently covered by them?

Mr. Flood: The future of the area based partnership companies has been raised not just by the Deputy but also by Deputy Allen. Working in conjunction with ADM we were in a position to provide interim funding which will last well into next year. This is an indication that our support for them continues. I do not want to pre-empt the outcome of my discussions with PLANET. All I can say to the Deputy is that the partnership will be centrally involved and will continue to be so involved. I may ask them to play an expanded role, although I am not in a position to go too deeply into that today, but I assure the Deputy that they will be centrally involved in the continuing attempt by the Government to tackle social exclusion.

Drugs Task Forces.

26. Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when the local drugs task forces have been asked to submit their new action plans; when they will receive the results of the two year evaluation currently being conducted by the national drugs strategy team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21603/99]

Mr. Flood: An independent evaluation of the local drugs task forces was completed towards the end of last year. On foot of the generally positive findings of the evaluation, the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs approved the continuation of the task forces for a further two year period on the basis of an evaluation framework being put in place which would allow the initiative to be measured in terms of impact and outcomes in due course.

Ms Shortall: I am interested in the Minister's phrase "in due course". There seems to be a lack of clarity in terms of what local task forces are supposed to be doing. They have completed their first two year plan. Will the Minister of State accept that it is unsatisfactory to put task forces in a position where they are asked to produce new plans without having received any evaluation of the first plan from the Minister or from the Taoiseach's Department? They have been told that successful projects will be mainstreamed. Will the Minister of State explain his intention in that

regard because many task forces are unsure about the continuation of the mainstream services or what they should include in their new plan. Will the Minister clarify that point?

Mr. Flood: I assure the Deputy that the issue of lack of clarity has no basis in my management of the local drugs task force process. The local drugs task forces are clear about their role. In the context of additional responsibilities we assigned to the task forces, we have submitted revised terms of reference to each local drugs task force and such has been the confidence of the Government in the process, we allocated £15 million to the local drugs task forces in August and requested that they draw up revised and additional plans to augment those already in place. I suggest to the Deputy that indicates the Government's commitment to the local drugs task forces project and that it is clear what we expect them to do. Based on the evaluation of the local drugs task force process already carried out, and the positive feedback from that evaluation, the Government decided to continue with the process for a number of years.

Ms Shortall: I would welcome some specific replies to my question. The Minister mentioned revised plans from the task forces. When do those revised plans have to be submitted to the Department? More importantly, when will the evaluation of the first two year plan be completed for each of the task forces? I am speaking as a member of two drugs task forces and I am aware that the lack of clarity extends to all task forces because they meet on a regular basis. They are not sure where they stand on the Government's position on what has been achieved to date. When will the Government decide on when services currently provided by task forces will be mainstreamed? I would like specific information on the dates. By what date do the revised plans have to be submitted and when will the Government evaluation be completed?

Mr. Flood: I am amazed to hear from the Deputy that there is confusion, lack of clarity or misunderstanding on the part of the local drugs task forces.

Ms Shortall: There is.

Mr. Flood: If there is, the chairpersons or the co-ordinators of the task forces are not conveying that to me. I meet them regularly. I meet these people when I visit Ballyfermot, Clondalkin, Tallaght, the south inner city, the north inner city-----

Ms Shortall: Give us the answers.

Mr. Flood: -----and they do not say they do not know what they are supposed to be doing-----

Ms Shortall: There will not be any time left for the Minister to give us the answers.

An Ceann Comhairle: Let the Minister of State reply.

Mr. Flood: Let me answer. The Deputy has made a serious charge that there is some confusion, lack of clarity or lack of direction to the local drug task forces.

Ms Shortall: Give us the answers please.

Mr. Flood: It is only fair to the local drugs task forces, and particularly to the community representatives on those task forces, to say that they know exactly what they are doing. Such is the confidence of the Government in what they are doing, we have allocated additional funding.

Ms Shortall: The Minister should tell us. We want the information.

An Ceann Comhairle: We must proceed to Question No. 27.

Mr. Flood: With regard to the revised plans, the Deputy will be glad to hear that we have told the local drugs task forces to bring those forward in their own time.

Ms Shortall: In their own time?

Mr. Flood: Correct. As a member of a local drugs task force, Deputy Shortall should know what that means.

Ms Shortall: Nonsense.

An Ceann Comhairle: I must remind the House that when dealing with ordinary questions, supplementary questions and the replies are subject to a limit of one minute. There is only time for a brief supplementary from Deputy Shortall.

Ms Shortall: Given that the Minister of State has taken up all the time, I would ask him to supply the information I have requested in written form before the end of today's business.

Mr. Flood: I will certainly provide it in written form but I would invite the Deputy, who is a member of a local drugs task force-----

Ms Shortall: I just want the information, not waffle.

Mr. Flood: -----to meet me to discuss these issues without giving out misinformation-----

Ms Shortall: Give us clear information.

Mr. Flood: -----and criticising the work of the local drugs task forces.

Ms Shortall: Nonsense. The Minister is waffling.

Mr. Flood: The Deputy should be ashamed.

An Ceann Comhairle: I call Question No. 27.

National Stadium.

27. Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has received the report of the feasibility study on a national stadium; if so, if he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22384/99]

48. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has received a copy of the report on the development of a national stadium carried out by the Government appointed feasibility group. [24528/99]

Dr. McDaid: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 48 together, but as the reply is the same as the reply to Questions Nos. 22 and 23, and in order to save time, I will allow the Deputies ask questions.

Mr. Allen: I thought they would have been taken in conjunction with those questions.

An Ceann Comhairle: No. The others were priority questions. We will pass on to Question No. 28.

Sports Anti-Doping Programme.

28. Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on whether the use of performance enhancing drugs by those involved in sport should be a criminal offence; and the proposals, if any, he has in this regard. [24471/99]

29. Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation when he will introduce legislation to criminalise the use of drugs in sport. [24539/99]

47. Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Education and Science in relation to the introduction of measures to discourage young athletes and sports people attending schools from using drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24531/99]

Dr. McDaid: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29 and 47 together.

Section 6(1)(d) of the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999, gives statutory responsibility to the council, established on 1 July last, to take whatever action it considers appropriate, including testing, to combat doping in sport.

Last weekend, I was pleased to launch the Irish Sport Council's national anti-doping programme and the first anti-doping test under the programme was carried out last Sunday. The programme has been designed with reference to the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, 1989, which seeks a three strand approach to the reduction of doping in sport, namely, testing, research and educational programmes and information campaigns.

Testing will be focused on priority sports in the coming months and carded athletes and competitors bound for Sydney will be given immediate priority in the testing programme. To re-emphasise the importance attached to the implementation of the national anti-doping programme, national governing bodies are obliged to authorise the council to conduct testing of their athletes as a condition of funding.

The national anti-doping programme was launched as part of a major education conference for national governing body administrators, anti-doping officers, medical officers, national coaches and sports persons, held on 20 and 21 November 1999. The conference, hosted by the Irish Sports Council, outlined in detail the various elements of the programme and its operation and also dealt with many important issues that are vital for a successful anti-doping programme.

Dr. Conor O'Brien has been appointed chairman of the council's anti-doping committee. The committee will advise and assist the council on policy formulation relating to the three strands of testing, education and research required and it will also advise and assist the council's staff on policy implementation issues.

I have always believed that education has an important role to play in creating a sporting environment which fosters the pursuit of excellence and fulfilment in sport by fair and ethical means, as recognised by the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, 1989.

As I have mentioned, the sports council's anti-doping programme has been designed to encompass broad educational programmes and informational campaigns. The council will emphasise the dangers to health inherent in doping and its harm to the ethical values of sport and the potential health risks in the misuse of other products such as food supplements. It is expected that the Sports Council will develop campaigns in co-operation with the National Coaching and Training Centre, Limerick, the national governing bodies and the health promotion unit of the Department of Health and Children, to take advantage of that unit's considerable experience in promulgating health education campaigns. The question of consultation with the Department of Education and Science will also be brought to the council's attention.

While my core objective up to now has been the introduction of the national sports anti-doping programme, which is predicated on active participation of autonomous national governing bodies of sport, I have also felt the measures in the programme might be complemented through the application of certain legislative based measures. A number of options have been identified, most specifically in the area of possession and supply of certain performance enhancing drugs. In this regard, I have had discussions with the Minister for Health and Children with regard to incorporating certain substances used in sport under Ireland's general drugs legislation. Discussions are at an advanced stage with regard to the types of drugs used for the enhancement of sport performances that may be suitable for inclusion in the Schedule to the Misuse of Drugs Act, and it is expected that amending legislation will be ready by the end of the year. Including certain performance enhancing drugs will send a very strong signal to those coaches, trainers, athletes and any other persons found in possession of such specified drugs that they will, in future, be committing an offence under Irish law, and be subject to the full rigours of that law.

Drug abuse in sport, of its nature, cannot be tackled at just national level. Doping in sport is an international problem which requires a concerted and co-ordinated response at international level. This has also been acknowledged at European level where the EU has committed itself to work with sports organisations in the fight against doping in sport. At the instigation of EU Sports Ministers, the European Commission has established a working group composed of officials of member states to assist in preparing a report on harmonising national and European assistance for doping control, and substantial agreement has also been reached on the tackling of the doping

problem on a worldwide scale involving the establishment of a world anti-doping agency. It is vital that we work collectively to address the issues involved in doping in sport.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe: I will focus on the issue of sanctions against athletes who continue to use these drugs. Does the Minister agree that educational and other such provisions might have a limited effect but that, eventually, we must consider sanctions? Am I correct in saying the sanctions under consideration by the Minister will be imposed by national governing bodies and may result in suspensions, expulsions, the handing back of medals and other such measures? I also wish to focus on the criminal law. Does the Minister accept that some of these offences should be amenable to the criminal law? Does he further accept that, while he talks about sending strong signals to coaches, trainers and suppliers of drugs, sending one of them to jail would be the strongest signal of all?

Dr. McDaid: I agree with the Deputy. The sanctions will be a matter for the national governing bodies and I hope they will be of a uniform nature. I am determined that they will be uniform across all sports. We do not want a recurrence of the situation in Lausanne where some sports felt they should be exempted. The Deputy is correct about the sanction of sending people to jail, and I have stated this in the past. What I am proposing has not been done in any other European country. Certain drugs require a prescription under the Misuse of Drugs Act - one cannot have these drugs in one's possession or trade in such drugs. However, this does not apply to anabolic steroids, EPO and certain other drugs.

I have supplied the Minister for Health and Children with a list of drugs which includes EPO, anabolic steroids and other drugs, and stated that I want them placed on the Schedule to the Misuse of Drugs Act, thereby making it a criminal offence to use or trade in these substances. The Deputy knows we cannot do anything about the person who wants to use drugs but we can take measures against those who possess and supply them. If these substances were included under the Misuse of Drugs Act, someone found with a large quantity of EPO would be committing a criminal offence. That is what we are doing but it requires amending the legislation which I hope to do before the end of the year.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe: The sooner the better.

Mr. O'Shea: Why is there no mention of legislation on performance enhancing drugs in sport in the section on sport and leisure in the review of the Government's programme? The issue can hardly be a high priority for the Government if it does not appear in that review. From the Minister's comments on amending the Misuse of Drugs Act, it seems the emphasis will be on possession and supply. However, if athletes are using performance enhancing drugs in competitions that involve large sums of money, surely that is a transgression of the criminal law and should be dealt with? What does the Minister envisage happening if so-called recreational drugs appear during testing? Sportspeople are role models for young people. Are sanctions proposed if they are found using recreational drugs?

Dr. McDaid: I propose to add more drugs to the list in the Misuse of Drugs Act. This is not a major procedure. We could have achieved this objective very simply, but we are trying to act in conjunction with colleagues in the UK who are also trying to add a number of drugs to its list. The matter is being dealt with.

When speaking about sanctions against the use of recreational drugs, I presume the Deputy is referring to coke, hash and such drugs.

Mr. O'Shea: Yes.

Dr. McDaid: The law exists to deal with those drugs.

Mr. O'Shea: I am talking about sanctions in the context of the sports in which these people are involved. These people can compete in sports which can involve large sums of money. Should action be taken against them as athletes?

Dr. McDaid: The Deputy is suggesting that the Garda should take action from a criminal perspective. He is also asking whether action should be taken against these people from a sporting aspect. My answer is yes. These people should be heavily penalised in whatever manner. These drugs are included under the Misuse of Drugs Act and users would be committing a criminal offence as the law stands. Sports bodies should take a very dim view of anyone using recreational drugs, some of whom are heroes to many young people.

The issue of drugs and doping in sport has reached such a stage that when I see someone on a podium at the Olympic Games or European Championships I wonder what that person has been on. I have stated before that the Olympic Games in Sydney will not be gauged on the massive stadia built or the huge amount of money spent, but on the integrity of the games and the measures taken against doping. Those who take recreational drugs are committing a criminal offence and their sports should have nothing more to do with them.

Mr. Allen: When he took office the Minister promised blood analysis for drug testing. He is now proposing criminalising those pushing drugs.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: A question please, Deputy.

Mr. Allen: Can we get back to basics? Will the Minister explain how the system will work? Let us assume a sample is taken, sent for analysis and the results come back to the Sports Council. Will the Sports Council interpret the results or is that left to the governing federation which would then invoke the sanctions? I put this question because I am concerned that the federations will have to face the cost of legal challenges if sanctions are invoked against an athlete. Some federations could be bankrupted by such challenges. Will the Minister assure me that interpretation of the results will be carried out by the Sports Council and that it will be up to the Sports Council to face any challenges in relation to the athlete's reputation?

Dr. McDaid: I continue to believe that blood testing will ultimately be introduced, although more recently hair follicle testing has been found to be even more beneficial. There are constant changes in this area. For example, from a hair follicle it can be determined whether drugs have been taken in the past five years. We are quite prepared to carry out blood testing and I have asked the anti-doping committee to carry out research into the area in which blood testing can be carried out. Indirectly we can carry out blood testing by testing for EPO. It would take longer than the time available to me to explain the situation.

There is an anti-doping committee within the Sports Council which is totally independent of the council. Dr. Conor O'Brien is the head of that committee which is composed of lawyers, neurophysiologists and pharmacists. There are three areas in terms of testing. When a person is tested the material is brought to a laboratory - we are currently dealing with a laboratory in London - which sends the test results back to the anti-doping committee which interprets them. The anti-doping committee and the laboratory have normal standards in this context. The result is then reported to the Sports Council which refers it to the national governing body, and it is up to that body to take action.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe: I wish to clarify one point. Deputy Allen raised a very important issue. Will the council adjudicate once it receives the results and say whether an athlete is guilty of using performance enhancing drugs? Will the Sports Council take responsibility for this decision? Are sanctions the only function of the national governing body?

Mr. Allen: Does the Sports Council supply the federation with the interpretation and judgment on the test result? Is the imposition of sanctions the only function left for the federation? Who will face a legal challenge?

Dr. McDaid: It is a very complicated legal matter. We are currently monitoring the situation concerning nandrolones in the UK and elsewhere which has been referred to the international federation. If I am not correct in what I am saying I will return to clarify the situation at a later stage. The Sports Council will decide whether a person has been guilty of taking drugs. That decision will then be sent to the national governing body. Last year and this year national governing bodies have been asked to change their constitutions to take account of imposing sanctions on those found guilty of taking drugs.

Mr. Allen: I have one simple question-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Deputy has done very well on this question.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe: There were three questions.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I call Question No. 30 in the name of Deputy Nora Owen.

Mr. Allen: I have a request-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Deputy did very well and asked an extra supplementary. Eighteen minutes were allowed for the three questions.

Mr. Allen: I am asking the Minister to make the committee available to the Oireachtas committee to facilitate discussion on the issue.

National Conference Centre.

30. Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the national conference centre. [24524/99]

38. Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the discussions, if any, he has had with EU officials regarding EU funding for the proposed national conference centre; if he has satisfied himself that the £26 million allocated in EU funding is still available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24530/99]

107. Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the EU funding, if any, available for the national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24714/99]

Dr. McDaid: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 38 and 107 together.

The Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, includes provision for 33 million ecu, approximately £26 million, in ERDF grant aid for the construction of a conference centre in Dublin capable of handling up to 2,000 delegates.

Following the failure of processes in 1995 and 1996 to secure an appropriate proposal, a new tender procedure, organised by Bord Fáilte under the direction of the independent management board for product development and conducted in accordance with EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC, was launched in September 1997. This process culminated in June 1998 in the selection of the proposal submitted by Spencer Dock International Convention Centre Limited to go forward for ERDF grant aid to develop the conference centre at a site in Dublin's docklands. The proposal was then subjected to an independent cost benefit analysis.

In September 1998 the Government agreed to the making of a submission to the European Commission recommending formal approval for a 33 million ecu ERDF grant towards the cost of developing the project. The Commission's approval in principle for the grant was notified in November 1998 subject to resolution of an outstanding procedural complaint and a decision on the compatibility of possible preferential tax regimes with State aid rules.

The Commission closed its file on the complaint in April 1999. Since then and following consultations between the developer and Bord Fáilte, I have been in correspondence with the Commission about how the schedule for completion of the project can be accommodated within the various operational programme and CSF deadlines.

Agreement was finalised on contractual details between Bord Fáilte and the developers and submitted to my Department on Monday, 18 October last. The developers have undertaken to execute these contracts in the event of an appropriate extension of time being granted by the European Commission in relation to the drawdown of the grant. The details were forwarded to the EU Commission to facilitate its consideration of the case for extension of the schedule for the project within the various deadlines.

I am now clarifying certain aspects of their response with the Commission. I expect these discussions to be concluded in the very near future and will then confirm the position to the developers.

Mr. Allen: For the past year and a half all I have been concerned about is that at the end of the day when all the complications and problems have been resolved the EU funding will still be available. Is the Minister still confident that the moneys allocated by the Commission will be forthcoming once the technical and appeal problems are resolved?

Dr. McDaid: I am very conscious of the funding arrangements and the matter is ongoing with the EU. We are in continuous-----

Mr. Allen: The Minister does not sound half as confident as he did 12 months ago.

Dr. McDaid: I am quite confident regarding the funding of £25 million which exists. As the Deputy is aware, the matter is before the planning authorities and there is very little I can do in that area.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: Question No. 38 asked the Minister if he had discussions recently with EU officials regarding funding. He stated that the funding is available, but for how long will it be available? Will the Minister agree that not one of the recently appointed Commissioners has tourism as part of his or her portfolio? It was a tremendous loss to the country-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Deputy should ask a question.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: Will the Minister agree that the fact that tourism is not mentioned in this context is a tremendous loss, and that it would have been an ideal portfolio for the Irish Commissioner? I also ask the Minister to say whether he has recently met the EU officials and for how long the funding will be available.

Dr. McDaid: We are in constant contact with the EU officials, most recently last week. Officials are continuing to make contact with us. I may be required to go to Brussels shortly and this will be one of the issues I will be raising. The EU is fully au fait with all the problems, including those concerning planning. Eight objections have been lodged which have to be overcome, the hearings on which will not be heard until next March or April. The EU has been quite fair in all aspects of this matter to date.

Mr. Allen: Is it true that the future of the conference centre is dependent on other related projects and that if some of these elements in the overall project fall, the proposal to build the conference centre will also fall? With hindsight will the Minister agree that it may have been a bit foolish for him to move from a stand alone project to one which is very much dependent on other elements in the overall development of that area of Dublin city?

Dr. McDaid: We all want this conference centre project to continue. Many of the Dublin hoteliers depend on the national conference centre proceeding. They have built their future on it, so it is vital to Dublin and to the national economy. While the matter is complex, the developers have signed the contractual agreement with Bord Fáilte which states they will proceed in accordance with the terms of that contract. That is a major step forward. There are always problems with a major development but the developers have signed the document. We should look at the positive steps made. I never regret that we took on this project. It was off the rails for a while but that was no one's fault. It is a major project which has been bedevilled by problems. We have learned by past mistakes and I hope we can overcome them.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: We are all aware how important this is to the country. Is there a plan B? What will happen if the difficulties are not sorted out? Will there be any implications or penalty clauses if we cannot find a site? I understand it must be in Dublin and cannot be in the regions. If it does not work out, what happens to the money? Are there any penalty clauses?

Dr. McDaid: As I stated we are conscious that we would not lose the £26 million. Consequently, we are covering all aspects of this. That is why we are in constant contact with the EU to obtain extensions to build the conference centre. It is of paramount importance not to lose that EU funding and, if there were any danger of that happening at some stage, that we would have it diverted in time to infrastructure or some other area. We still have that relationship with the EU and it is aware of the situation. The matter is before An Bord Pleanála because there are objections to it. It is outside my remit at present but the EU is taking it into consideration. A contract has been signed between the developers and Bord Fáilte which has been accepted by the EU, but that is pending the decision on the planning permission. What we would not want to happen is to lose the conference centre.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin: Is there a plan B?

Dr. McDaid: No, there is no plan B at this stage.

Mr. O'Shea: Could the Minister elaborate on the agreement signed by the developer? Following on Deputy Moynihan-Cronin's question, could a scenario arise where the State would be liable for large costs if the development did not proceed? Are there penalty clauses for the State or Bord Fáilte, which is the State under another name? What is the position?

Dr. McDaid: I am crossing every "t" and dotting every "i" with regard to that aspect. The State could be held liable if it were not to proceed in an organised fashion. We could be held liable by the developers if we were to do anything wrong which would pre-empt this conference centre. We are also conscious that other people who were not entertained this time or who were unsuccessful on this occasion could also take an action against the State. I am conscious of all those aspects so the Attorney General is involved at all times and we will continue to take his advice. While we could be held liable, we are covering ourselves.

Dr. McDaid: About six weeks ago.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.