Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the officials for coming back in.

I agree with the Chairman that it would have been more helpful to have a copy of Mr. Keegan's submission this morning. There are matters that conflict with the submission of the GAA but I believe Dublin City Council has applied proper procedures and has acted to the letter of the law on this issue.

I am not as convinced as some of my colleagues. I wish to refer to the first telephone call that was made by Mr. Keegan prior to the submission of the licence application. Mr. Keegan referred to the conversation he had with the stadium director at Croke Park, Mr. Peter McKenna. During this conversation Mr. Keegan expressly stated that Dublin City Council would support a licence for five concerts. Did Mr. Keegan further request that Mr. McKenna make the decision making process as easy as possible for Dublin City Council? I want a yes or no answer because the director general of the GAA, the highest officer of that organisation, gave evidence to this committee, along with Mr. Aiken, that this is what happened. They stated on the record of these Houses that Mr. Keegan did not see any difficulty with licensing all five Garth Brooks concerts.

The issue of the 11 frivolous objections has been raised and I contend more time should have been spent evaluating the reliability of the objections and their sources. I know the Garda is now investigating the fruitless nature of some of the objections. Perhaps if the staff at Dublin City Council had taken the time more frivolous objections would have been identified. I am aware of a previous case where a person had made 27 or 28 objections in different names.

Mr. Keogan is head of planning and economic development and had a major role in the decision making process but he has a home in the locality where he admits his son lives. Mr. Keogan also admits that people he grew up with, in his own words, made representations. Mr. Keegan admitted at the last meeting that he was unaware of these facts until Mr. Keogan appeared before the committee that day. Can Mr. Keogan explain to the committee why he did not inform the CEO, Mr. Keegan, of these facts and why he remained part of the decision making process? I believe Mr. Keogan faced a conflict of interests and should have recused himself from the decision making process on this matter. I believe the CEO when he says he was not aware of these facts.

My other questions have been answered by the witnesses' submission and in answer to my colleagues' questions.