Sports Minister
John O'Donoghue
Croke Park
Calls for opening up of the stadium
The Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue has called on the GAA to open up Croke Park to other sports, in the national interest.
However, the Minister said he still believed there was a need for an alternative national stadium.
A spokesman for the GAA has said it is unhelpful for outside interests to try to influence the matter.
All this comes just days after the IRFU proposed building a new stadium at Lansdowne Road.
The stadium debate has been given added urgency given that the FAI may not be able to play its home qualifying games for the 2006 soccer world cup at Lansdowne because of capacity issues.
