Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the status of the proposed national convention centre; the expected timetable for delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15397/04]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Office of Public Works received four submissions for the provision of a national conference centre following its advertisement for expressions of interest on 11 November 2003. The closing date for the receipt of submissions was 21 January 2004.

Those submissions have undergone detailed evaluation by an assessment panel representative of my Department, the Office of Public Works and its advisers, the Department of Finance, Fáilte Ireland and the National Development Finance Agency. I understand that submission of the assessment panel's report to the chairman of the national conference centre steering group is imminent. A separate assessment panel has evaluated the site proposals that candidates were also asked to put forward. I am informed that as soon as that report has been finalised, both reports will be considered by the steering group with a view to deciding on the candidates to go forward to the next stage of the process.

In the meantime, I am informed that the Office of Public Works and its advisers continue to work on the preparation of the detailed documentation required before that next stage can be initiated. In addition, consultants have been engaged by the OPW to undertake a public sector benchmarking exercise, as required by the Department of Finance's interim guidelines for the provision of infrastructure and capital investments through public private partnerships. I am told that this is likely to take some weeks to complete.

The timeframe prepared following the Government's decision to secure the provision of a national conference centre, and which envisaged that a final decision from Government could be secured in the autumn, was an indicative timeframe based on the information and assumptions available at the time. The procurement process that was subsequently undertaken is, as one would expect for a project of this scale, necessarily complex. In addition to the procedural requirements of the PPP process, the development of the detailed design and contract documentation is demanding, with details requiring careful scrutiny and consideration.

As a result, I am now advised that it is unlikely that the procurement process will be sufficiently advanced to facilitate a Government decision in the autumn. While I hope to be in that position before the end of the year, I am, given the complexity of the process, reluctant to be categorical. My priority is to have this project brought to a conclusion at the earliest possible date. However, it is important that the relevant procedures and guidelines pertaining to the process are closely observed and that nothing is done that might jeopardise its successful conclusion.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I hope this project will not be long-fingered. The tone of the Minister's reply seems to indicate that the urgency associated with this project has abated. I am sure he is aware that Ireland is losing about €50 million every year because we do not have an international conference centre. Ireland is not even ranked among the leading conference destinations in Europe and Dublin is ranked only about twenty-fifth in that regard. When it comes to conferences, we are just not at the races. The debate on providing a national conference centre has been ongoing for approximately 15 years. Does the Minister agree that there is a need for urgency about the provision of such a centre? The Government's two main priorities in this area should be the national conference centre and the Abbey Theatre project, which I asked about in Question No. 29. The Minister, who is probably halfway through his term of office, should prioritise these projects. Will he assure the House and the tourism industry that there will be no further delays? Will a decision on the successful partner be taken before the end of the year?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The procurement of the national conference centre is a particularly complex and lengthy undertaking. While I hope to take the matter to the Cabinet for a decision later in the year, I cannot rule out the possibility that deliberations and negotiations will continue into next year. I assure Deputy Deenihan that I am fully committed to delivering the project at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to the acceptance of proposals.

It is true that conference business is being lost to Ireland. Fáilte Ireland estimates that approximately 120,000 people come to this country, mainly to Dublin, to participate in conferences each year. The construction of a dedicated conference centre would lead to an increase in the figure to at least 150,000. Many cities that have dedicated conference centres have been visited on many occasions by certain organisations that would like a change. We could expect a high level of business in the centre's first ten years of operations. It is immensely important that we provide a dedicated conference centre. I regard it as a priority.

I would like to make progress with the Abbey Theatre project this year so that those involved with the theatre can be told where they stand. We should also consider the development of a new national concert hall. I have said on a number of occasions that the current generation of Irish people is one of the most imaginative and creative generations there has been. None of that creativity or imagination has yet been given expression in our public architecture.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister concerned by BUPA's recent decision, inspired by the smoking ban, not to bring an international conference to Dublin? Does the Minister believe that the ban will affect conferences in the future? Has Tourism Ireland offered any counter-arguments to allay the fears of people coming here who have similar concerns?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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When the decision on the smoking ban was being made, I asked Tourism Ireland's officials throughout the world to report on the likely effect of the ban on tourism numbers. The response I received was the effect would be negligible. It was argued that the smoking ban would help to increase the number of visitors coming to the country from the United States. I understand that Norway followed Ireland by introducing a smoking ban today. A precedent has been set that will be followed in other countries, including countries that will be in competition with Ireland for conferences.