Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the development of the national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8265/06]

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the award of the provisional tender for the construction of the national conference centre in Dublin; if he still expects a final decision on this issue later in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 65 together.

On 17 November 2005, I informed the House that, on the advice of the national conference centre steering group and with approval by the Government, I had designated Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium as the provisional preferred tenderer for the provision of a national conference centre in Dublin.

In accordance with the competition process, the contracting authority, the Office of Public Works, is currently engaging with the provisional preferred tenderer to negotiate, settle and agree any required amendments to the project agreement. 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 by mid-2006.