De Valera accused on 'secret' Abbey reports

The Minister for the Arts was accused of guarding the secrecy of a report by the Office of Public Works on the future of the Abbey Theatre as if it were the "third miracle of Fatima".

However, Ms de Valera said she did not intend to publish the report because it was "price sensitive", but her officials had briefed the theatre about the broad conclusions and the authors met representatives of the theatre in carrying out the report.

She added that she and her officials had numerous meetings with the Abbey board. In addition, the chairman of the theatre board welcomed the Government decision to support the redevelopment of the National Theatre at its existing site. It will be redeveloped through a public-private partnership.

She added that "contrary to what people read in The Irish Times, there has been a genuine welcome for the Government decision on the Abbey theatre and that was evident in other newspaper reports over the weekend".

During Arts questions, Fine Gael's spokesman, Mr Dinny McGinley, accused the Minister and the Cabinet of making the decision with "minimum consultation, discussion and debate" with the Abbey board and everyone else. He asked if Ms de Valera had come to the decision based on the findings of the two reports, carried out by the Office of Public Works.

"What is so secretive about the reports?" he asked, that the Minister could not show them to the theatre, which was directly involved, or to Opposition spokespersons. Ms de Valera was "guarding their secrecy as if they were the third miracle of Fatima".

Ms de Valera reiterated that there had been a "great deal of consultation".