Call For Bord Gáis Energy Theatre To Be Kept In Public Ownership

Fianna Fáil is calling for the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre to be kept in public ownership.

The call comes following reports that the venue will be sold at a heavy discount on what was spent to develop the Daniel Libeskind-designed facility.

Arts Spokesperson, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, said: "We should be looking at how to generate the maximum national benefit from the fact that this building is now in public ownership through NAMA, rather than looking only at how to release some quick cash from the building".

He continued: "Just last month, a major study into attendance at live theatre events in London showed that over the course of twelve months, significantly more people attended live theatre events in London than attended the entire premiership football season over the same period (22 million –v- 13 million).


"This demonstrates the enormous potential in the sector and suggests to me that rather than selling off this fantastic venue at an enormous loss, we should be exploring ways to retain it in Irish public ownership, continue to develop the programme of events that has been doing so well there under the management of Live Nation and formerly Harry Crosbie, while also leveraging public ownership to make the venue a hub for the development of successful indigenous Irish theatre and musical theatre projects."

Mr Ó Fearghaíl is writing to both the Arts Minister Heather Humphreys and the Finance Minister Michael Noonan to ask for the withdrawal of the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from the current fire sale and the establishment of a review on the future of the building.

(CD/JP)