The task of negotiating with the five competitors for the National Conference Centre contract has fallen to a new team of experts, appointed last week by the chairman of Bord Failte, Mark Mortell. They are:

Richard Hooper, former chief executive of Investment Bank of Ireland and director of Jurys Hotels and the Green Property Company.

Eamonn Gill, partner in A & L Goodbody, solicitors.

Fred Browne and Derek Heavy, of Robinson Keefe and Devane, architects.

Patrick O'Donoghue and Jim Weinmann, of Mulcahy McDonagh and Partners, quantity surveyors.

Greg Sparks and Derek Donohoe, of Farrell Grant Sparks, accountants and management consultants.

They replace a more broadly-based team of technical assessors who spent two months examining the tenders. This team consisted of the following:

Jim McGuigan (Bord Failte), Roddy Feeley (Bord Failte), Richard Trehy, chartered accountant; Tony O'Rourke, of solicitors, P.F. O'Reilly and Co; Arthur Gibney and Deirdre O'Connor, of Arthur Gibney and Partners, architects; Pat Duffy, quantity surveyor; Bernard McHugh, planning consultant; Kathleen Carroll and Justin Bailey, of Bastow Charlton Howarth; Michael Counihan, CHL Consulting; Malcolm Close, Glasgow Convention Centre; Martin Carr, Carr and Aungier, theatre design consultants; Cathal Maxwell, tax consultant, and Rodrey Williams QC, an expert on EU procurement law.

The Management Board for Product Development consists of the following:

Malachy Stephens, of Stephens and Company, chartered accountants, Mullingar (chairman).

Jim McGuigan, head of investment services, Bord Failte. Eamonn McKeon, managing director Great Southern Hotels and chairman of CERT.

Oliver Power, principal officer, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation.

Paul Tansey, of Tansey Webster and Associates, economic consultants.

Niall Reddy, secretary and acting chief executive, Bord Failte*.

(* Mr Reddy replaced Matt McNulty, who resigned as chief executive of Bord Failte on April 3rd).