Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I call for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come before the House today to discuss the Garth Brooks concerts and the economic impact a cancellation will have on Dublin city. Yesterday, I chaired a press conference in Buswells Hotel comprising the head of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation and the Licensed Vintners Association, all of whom are greatly concerned about the economic damage this debacle is doing to our city. If the concerts do not go ahead, 400,000 fans will miss out but Dublin city will lose €50 million of business that is badly needed by small businesses across the city like hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, retailers and taxi drivers. I refer to small business people right across the city who employ thousands of people and are badly reliant on concert revenue.

The cancellation of concerts will all do huge damage to Ireland's reputation as a tourist destination. Tourism is Ireland's number one domestic industry and is far more significant to the economy than agriculture, manufacturing or any other industry. The debacle over concerts has done great damage to the sector because 70,000 of the 400,000 tickets were sold to people overseas who booked flights, paid for accommodation and do not know over two weeks beforehand whether they are coming to Ireland. For an event of this scale to be in such doubt is a serious mess. Today is the last day to find a solution and, therefore, it is incumbent on the Government to act on this matter.

Last night Dublin City Council voted. The councillors are the direct representatives of people and were democratically elected and voted for the five concerts to go ahead. However, the Dublin City manager has refused to change his mind and has said he will not change his original decision. It is incumbent on the Government to get involved given the economic consequences of the event. The Minister should come in here to discuss the matter and the Government should accept the legislation that my colleague, Deputy Timmy Dooley, is putting forward in the other House. We can then look at longer-term issues that have been raised such as changing the licensing system to ensure we never end up in a similar situation again.