Dáil debates

Thursday, 17 November 2005

Other Questions.

National Conference Centre.

4:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the appointment of the successful tenderer for the provision of the proposed national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34586/05]

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a provisional preferred tenderer has been designated for the award of the contract for delivery of the new national conference centre; when the issue of the award of the contract will be brought to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34900/05]

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 33 together.

I am pleased to inform the House that, following approval by the Government, I announced yesterday that Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium is being invited to become the provisional preferred tenderer for the provision of a national conference centre in Dublin. The decision was taken by the national conference centre steering group following a detailed assessment and evaluation of tenders received against award criteria set out in the Invitation to Negotiate document.

I understand that, in accordance with the competition process, the next step will be for the contracting authority, the Office of Public Works, to negotiate, settle and agree any required amendments to the project agreement with the provisional preferred tenderer and for the provisional preferred tenderer to resolve all outstanding due diligence issues. Assuming that these negotiations prove successful, the next step will be the appointment of the provisional preferred tenderer as preferred tenderer. During the preferred tenderer phase, the preferred tenderer will develop and provide the full range of project documents which will require review and approval by the contracting authority.

I am delighted that a further critical stage in the process of delivering a world-class national conference centre for Dublin has been completed and I look forward to the early completion of the next stages and to a final decision by the Government next year. I am particularly pleased that the commitment in the programme for Government to provide a national conference centre has taken this further major step towards final implementation.

On the basis of consultations undertaken by my Department and research reviewed, I am totally convinced of the need for a modern, dedicated national conference centre if Ireland is to realise its full potential in the very valuable international conference market.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the announcement. I am sure the Minister will agree that the existence of a national conference centre would add approximately €60 million to the Irish economy and create and support approximately 3,000 jobs. Will he be more specific regarding the provisional preferred tenderer? Might it transpire that negotiations will break down between the Government and the provisional preferred tenderer such that the latter might not be accepted by the Government? Will the Minister confirm that the tenderer has complied with all the procurement guidelines? Is there a question of any guideline not being adhered to? If the provisional preferred tenderer becomes the preferred or accepted tenderer, what timeframe does the Minister envisage before the start-up of this important facility for the country?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Of necessity, this has been a complex and difficult procedure. The tenderers underwent a rigorous examination and evaluation by the steering group, which was obliged to make a decision as to the preferred tenderer to go before Government for its decision. Issues had to be examined in detail. The current status is that the contracting party, the Office of Public Works, will enter into discussions with the provisional preferred tenderer to finalise negotiations.

I prefer to look at this matter in a positive light. The project has been mooted for many years. In a sense, we have read most of the chapters of the book and have now reached the last chapter. We will read and perhaps re-read the last chapter but, in the final analysis, within a period of approximately six to nine months the final preferred tenderer can be identified. It should then be possible to go to the Government with a view to designating the preferred tenderer. One can foresee all kinds of obstacles, of which there have been many in the provision of a national conference centre, but as we have passed the penultimate stage, I am confident that we can successfully conclude negotiations and have the conference centre built.