Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 18: 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. [2515/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if agreement has been reached with a company (details supplied) to proceed with the national convention centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2383/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 31 together.

On 17 November last, I informed the House that, following approval by the Government, I had the previous day announced that Spencer Dock international conference centre consortium was being invited to become the provisional preferred tenderer for the provision of a national conference centre in Dublin. The decision had been 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.

In accordance with the competition process, the contracting authority, the Office of Public Works, is currently engaging with the PPT to negotiate, settle and agree any required amendments to the project agreement. It is also necessary for the PPT 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 look forward to the early completion of the next stages and to a final decision by Government in the course of this year.

On the basis of consultations undertaken earlier 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 hugely valuable international conference market.