Mr. Jim Keogan:

When this was raised on the last occasion the suggestion was it might have influenced the decision that I endorsed by way of a recommendation from the officer. The implication was that there might have been bias. My point on that occasion was that in 2009 an equally controversial licence application was before the Dublin City Council relating to three U2 concerts over four nights but the fallout was not as severe as in this case. A public meeting, which I attended, was held in 2009 after the decision was made on the application. My point is, I made my decision on the U2 concerts without any suggestion of bias. I have always dealt with such matters with fairness, objectivity and impartiality and with regard for due process and procedure.

Regarding my interest in the property mentioned, as an officer of Dublin City Council I was required to declare my interest in writing and I did so. My interest in the property is a matter of public record. The previous city manager may not have been aware of my connections to the area but this was never an issue because any professional decision arrived at by a delegated officer in local government is always based on sound assessment, recommendation and reporting. Whether a planning application or an event licence is in question-----