Delegates from the governing body of European soccer, UEFA, today inspected Ireland¿s progress in its bid to co-host Euro 2008 and said they were not concerned by stadium issues.
They said they were "very impressed with the Irish bid so far" and that "the bid is alive and kicking and very much in the race". The Government's commitment to invest in infrastructure around the Stadium Ireland site in Abottstown was complimented by the delegation.
The chairman of the joint-bid committee, Mr David Taylor said the Government's investment in infrastructure at Abbotstown was "very substantial".
The delegation was unconcerned over the issues surrounding the green field site in Abbotstown and the fact that Croke Park is forbidden to host soccer matches by the GAA.
However, the director of Communications for UEFA, Mr Mike Lee, said that any issues surrounding the proposed venues would have to be cleared up by the mid-December deadline.
"The loose ends will have to be cleared up by December. That is catergoric. We should have clarity and certainty [about the stadia] when we meet in December," said Mr Lee.
Overall the delegation were "very impressed" with the joint bid and also the political commitment shown by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Sport, Mr O'Donoghue.
The delegation arrived in a bus with blacked-out windows to Abbotstown, the proposed site of the increasingly doubtful Stadium Ireland project, under Garda escort at 11 a.m.
Soon after, they received a tour of Croke Park from stadium manager Mr Peter McKenna.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Arts and Sport, Mr O'Donoghue, then met the UEFA representatives in Government Buildings this afternoon.
The Taoiseach assured the delegation that the Government was fully behind the bid despite last week pulling the funding for Stadium Ireland. "I took the chance to assure the UEFA officials that we are as committed as ever to providing the quality stadia that are required in order to host the tournament," Mr Ahern said.
The delegation did not visit Lansdowne Road as part of its inspection due to time constraints. The General Secretary of the FAI, Mr Brendan Menton said: "UEFA are already familiar with Lansdowne Road.
The redevelopment of Lansdowne Road is the preferred option of the Tánaiste, Ms Harney to that of building a national stadium at Abbotstown. However, the mechanics of the bidding process require that Ireland has three available stadia to choose from by the December deadline, which means that Croke Park will have to be opened up for soccer if the bid is to be succesful.
A final proposal for hosting the tournament with full details of the stadium provision must be in place by December 13th.
In a statement this afternoon, the Scottish-Irish Euro 2008 Committee said it had reassured the delegation that it could deliver on stadiums.
Director Mr John Henderson said: "The UEFA team asked some searching questions but our bid is extremely robust and fulfils all the criteria that UEFA have laid out. Obviously the issue of stadia was raised and the delegates were reassured that we can deliver what we have promised ' great stadia and a great tournament."