The Attorney General, Mr McDowell, will report to the Cabinet today in connection with the controversial handling of contracts for building and running a €62 million national aquatic centre at Abbotstown, Co Dublin, by Campus and Stadium Ireland Development (CSID).
It is more than two weeks since questions of public importance were raised about the dormant shelf company, Waterworld UK, which was awarded the contract to operate the centre. The considerable delay in providing detailed answers has not been in anyone's interest.
On a number of occasions, in the Dáil and elsewhere, the Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid, has sought to minimise the issues involved. In spite of that - and having failed to secure satisfactory answers from CSID to his own questions - Dr McDaid called for an urgent review of the way in which the matter had been handled. The outcome of an emergency board meeting of CSID on March 8th, failed to satisfy the Government and after the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, ventilated her concerns, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, asked the Attorney General to conduct a formal investigation.
Waterworld UK, with assets of £4 sterling, was granted the contract to build and operate the aquatic centre in association with the construction firm, Rohcon. But it retained a stake of only 4 per cent in a Tralee-connected company, Dublin Waterworld, that will eventually run the centre at an estimated profit of €1.9 million a year. The expertise for operating one of the largest aquatic centres in Europe will, in effect, come from Tralee Aquadrome. In its defence, CSID has insisted that all appropriate processes had been followed and that Waterworld UK was entitled, under EU procurement rules, to proceed with the bid once it had satisfied CSID that it could call on the necessary financial resources.
The linkages between these companies and the beneficial ownership involved, may form part of Mr McDowell's report along with the propriety of the procedures followed. Attention will also focus on the failure of CSID management to advise its own board and the Government of the fact that Waterworld UK was a shelf company.
As might be expected in advance of a general election - and given the work of the various tribunals of inquiry - the Opposition parties have sought to gain political advantage from the situation. The fact that the Taoiseach was in charge when the contracts were prepared has been highlighted. Because of that, the Government must take the necessary action to lay public anxieties to rest.