Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications

Concert Licensing: GAA and Aiken Promotions

11:00 am

Mr. Peter Aiken:

It would be some legislation the Government could introduce to say this was of national significance, that it had listened to all of what had been said on how the decision had been made and that perhaps 40% of claims were fraudulent. There was even the ridiculous matter of the High Court injunction, when some fellow received €15,000 and did not know from where he had received it. Perhaps somebody from the North gave it to him and he got a brand new suit. This was all reported in the newspapers. It is like an episode from "Father Ted" but with serious consequences for me. Every newspaper picked up on it. They reported that 40% of claims were fraudulent. How am I judged as an Irish citizen, as a Dublin citizen who has been living here for 20 years, on these terms? What are my rights? This illegal activity has been ongoing and I have been completely blindsided.