Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank the Minister for being present to discuss this important issue. In the short time available I will make a number of points about what happened at the weekend. I am 29 years of age and one of the youngest Deputies in the Dáil. I was at the concert by the Stone Roses and other bands in the Phoenix Park on Thursday night, and many of my peers, constituents, friends and neighbours attended the concerts in the Phoenix Park over the weekend.

I wish to talk about citizenship. Every citizen in this country who attends an entertainment or music event, a concert or a play has a right to expect to be able to do so safely and securely and to enjoy themselves. That was not the case last Saturday. I have spoken to people who were there. These are young people who would generally go out at the weekends, as young people do. They were afraid of what was happening, felt under threat and felt a sense of menace and aggression. They had never witnessed this at a concert or a musical event previously. Serious questions must be asked of the promoters of this event with regard to the level of security and scrutiny that took place in and around the concert and the Phoenix Park. Were people searched? People who were clearly intoxicated or under the influence of illegal substances were allowed into the concert. Were they searched for weapons and so forth?

We witnessed very serious, violent events. Residents in the Castleknock and Ashtown areas also have a right to be able to go about their business safely and securely. There was a huge amount of negative and anti-social behaviour in those areas, particularly on Saturday night. I look forward to hearing the Minister's response.

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