Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The legislation is specifically tailored to deal with the issue of the cancelled concerts immediately because it would facilitate a review mechanism in respect of the decision taken by Dublin City Council regarding the licence application relating to the Garth Brooks concerts. The legislation could have immediate application.

This week the guillotine is being applied to a number of Bills and we have co-operated with the Government in that regard. It is not beyond the capacity of the Oireachtas to pass emergency legislation, if necessary, and also to give a clear signal that, in view of our current financial circumstances, we need to engage with major economic projects of this kind in a hands-on way. In that context, I understand that there were no face-to-face meetings with residents who live near Croke Park. Certain news media outlets have reported that some objections to the concerts were forged. I am not saying that all of them were because people obviously lodged legitimate objections. I understand that some of the negotiations which took place gave rise to the significant concessions of no concerts being held at the venue next year. That would have been a major win for the residents who had objections to this series of concerts. Meaningful efforts were made by some actors in the process in terms of trying to mediate a solution. Ultimately, there is no point in people wringing their hands and saying that what has happened is both terrible and a great embarrassment.

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