Apparently, the Promoter submitted all his plans weeks earlier than normal...per the Ray Darcy show this AM. Followed all the rules and guidelines
Would this be the same Ray Darcy that promised to emigrate if Enda Kenny became Taoiseach? We're still waiting Ray.
Not true at all - they submitted their papers in April, two months after selling 400k tickets. And why the delay? Because;
he knew the 3 night limit but decided to wait very late to lodge the application, taking the "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" approach?
It was an obvious attempt by Aiken, and continued by Garth to bully the authorities for their financial gain. They failed.
We need proper reform of local government.
Proper directly elected mayors with exucutive powers.
Why did Dublin City Council not bother to come out sooner?
We absolutely do need political reform of local government and elsewhere, but I’m not sure this is the issue to focus on. I’m not sure what difference at all a directly elected mayor would make. Most of us have moved on from the bad old days of the FF controlled councils passing ‘Section 4’ motions (have I got the section right) to overrule the professional planners and build everything, everywhere.
The process worked. The only problem was the promoter’s decision to sell 400k tickets before he got licence to proceed.
While I'm not entirely dismissing the concerns of some residents I think:
- they've dirtied their bibs with forgery
- Plenty of residents want the concerts
- Dont buy a house near a stadium (there since 1910's or so) and then complain about it.
- Choosing a guy who doesnt live there wasnt the brightest idea (ok he has his handball bake, surely that can be accommodated in some way).
- Garth aint Swedish House Mafia - culchies are by and large grand people if you take the time to understand them ...ok US. I've been to Croker more times than ... well ...lots of times and the atmosphere outside is grand. Between you me and the wall, I'd walk through places when there's an event on that I wouldnt walk through any other day of the year (or without being on fairly red alert).
Other than that:
- the planning system is a shambles, what cant be explored and decided upon in 3 weeks isnt work exploring.
- in the context of a 3 week turnaround, ticket sales before planning should be prohibited.
- Aiken/the GAA/Garth were being greedy. The GAA were breaking their own rule - I gather they were willing to get the chequebook out to solve the problem - I dont really have a problem with that, it should be an everyone wins scenario.
- I think Garth should have played the 3 - this "its a 5 concert production" I dont really buy. His "threat" is a bit of an affront, if he cared so much about his fans (of whom I'm certainly not one) he should play the 3.
- Ringing Obama etc. is a cringe but I dont have a problem with politicians seeking a solution "in the national interest".
- We've already had the embarrassment, lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater, play the 5 shows, whether there's a few days off in the middle and/or the residents get a bumper pay off - everyone wins and Ireland Inc remains a business friendly environment.
That is all
I’ve no idea why you say that the system is a shambles, or why you expect serious decisions like this to be taken in three weeks. For a start, the Councils don’t have teams of people sitting round waiting for these applications to land. There is other stuff going on. If they drop everything, everything a promoter has a brainwave, the system will grind to a halt. It’s a 10 week process. Do you really think that Aiken and Garth didn’t take their own good time to work out their contract? Do you really think that getting the stage and the equipment and the ship doesn’t take a significant period? This is big business, and needs to be done professionally. Is there any good reason why Aiken shouldn’t have sought permission last year, and held off on selling tickets until permission was granted (other than the reason of bullying authorities into permission)?
Why no political intervention?
Because it’s not a Fianna Fail government. And most other governments don’t go much for political intervention in due process. Leo said it better;
The ability of public representatives to intervene has resulted in many a disgrace in the past! We don't need to give them more powers to overrule planning law when it suits them or their buddies, or wins a few votes.
And then you said:
This would have been a boost for business in Dublin.
Again, Leo said it better:
As for the loss of tax revenue to the state, I think this card is being overplayed. Sure, Dublin hotels and restaurants would do well that week, but at a cost to those in the rest of the country, unless those who would have spend their money going to these concerts put this money under their matresses and never, ever spend it in the future.
The extra travel involved would have resulted in lots more fuel used, more money out of the country... Also, how many million was Brooks going to take out of the country in his suitcase? The economics are a lot more complex than those representing the vested interests would have you believe.
The figures being bandied about were nonsensical. Where did the 70k visitors buying tickets come from – Mr Aiken perhaps? Where did the figures of visitors spending €700 each on top of their ticket price come from ? I don’t know many couples who spend €1500 to go see a gig.
Perhaps the figures were based on the price-gouging rates normally charged by hotels who double and treble their normal rack rates to exploit ticket buyers. Forgive me if my heart doesn’t bleed for them.
The rather funny Waterford Whispers letter from Aiken to Garth just about sums up my views on the matter, though decorum and good taste prevents me from posting a link.
And this disposable income will end up being spent on other stuff, on local pubs, restaurants and maybe on hotel weekends away. It will all come out in the wash.
Dublin City Council and in particular Owen Keegan seem to be getting the blame for this. In my opinion the blame lies with the promoter. He's ultimately responsible as the project manager for the event. He might be constrained by legislation and bureaucracy but he should have worked around this and within the limits.
Absolutely
Maybe someone should be getting on to Bruce Springsteen to offer him three nights playing to 240,000 people in croke park. That would be a good result.
Now you’re talking....
