This stadium for the new century will make an inspirational statement of what we are as a people as we face into the new millennium - On the Abbotstown project, October 1998
The vision of the next century has to be about putting opportunity to work for everyone who lives on this island. And today we are talking about one vital piece of that vision.
From the time Ronnie Delany won gold at Melbourne, many of us have derived some part of our Irishness from the courage and grace of the people who represent their county and their country in sport, athletes who have lifted the hearts and spirits of their fellow Irish people.
At a time when we are investing in the infrastructure that our development needs, I believe strongly, that this is one vital piece of infrastructure that will help to complete the picture. As a nation, not only can we afford this undertaking - we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip
- On Abbotstown, January 2000
I fully accept that this is a visionary project, and there will be some who want to knock it for that reason. Every new initiative in recent years - in financial services, urban development, culture and education, to suggest some examples - has had its critics at the start.
But all have worked, and they have all changed Ireland for the better
- On Abbotstown, January 2000
Costs have been going up. But all this nonsense about a billion - this project is not going to cost a billion.
We have to watch the cost and, of course, we'll do that. We'll have an independent external review. But this country badly needs good modern sporting facilities and I hope we can provide them
- On Abbotstown, April 2001
This Government will not lose any time in getting on with the work with the national sporting bodies. I think any future Irish government, regardless of whether I am in it or not, will complete a stadium campus in this country. I don't think anybody would dare not, frankly. It would be reneging on the wishes of the vast majority of Irish people
- On Abbotstown, February 2002
I'll fight the election on the basis that this country does require improved sport facilities and that it does require not only a stadium but a campus for the development of sport into the future for this country
- On Abbotstown, April 2002
Some politicians have difficulty knowing the difference between a stadium and a campus, but we can forgive them that as a lot of them might not have seen a sporting event in the 50 years they have been on this planet
- Responding to Michael McDowell's remark during the May 2002 general election campaign on the Taoiseach's stadium proposals hat the Abbotstown scheme smacked of "Ceaucescu"
The Government has decided that, in current circumstances, it is not in a position to provide any exchequer funding, in the medium term, for a national stadium
- Government statement in September 2002
We need a second stadium . . . I would like it to be Abbotstown, but by and large I'd like to see a second stadium. I am not hung up and never was about where. I have a preference, I'm entitled to a preference
- January 2004