Dublin City Council has granted a licence for concerts to be held in the Phoenix Park on July 10th, 13th & 14th 2013. Following the mayhem of the Swedish House Mafia concerts last year residents in the local community strongly opposed any further concerts being held in the Phoenix Park however the Minister with responsibility for the OPW granted permission for the Phoenix Park to be used for concerts again this year.
As Chair of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee I brought the OPW, DCC, the Gardai and the event organisers to the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee last year to address residents legitimate concerns. The decision yesterday by Dublin City Council to grant a special event licence was made following months of consultation with all stakeholders and preparation or a robust event plan.
Dublin City Council has granted the licence to Festival Republic Limited on behalf of MCD Productions Limited subject to 14 Conditions. The conditions include a robust Security and Garda operations plans, an integrated waste/litter management plan for the Concert Site, the Phoenix Park itself and also the residential areas surrounding the Phoenix Park, a Resident Hotline 01 6790021 will be provided from 9.am to 12 midnight on the day of each concert, temporary portable toilet facilities will be provided outside the Concert site and a fully integrated Traffic Management Plan has been drafted and will be put in place on the days of each Concert.
I welcome the improved arrangements for the event and the provision of a hotline for residents to register any complaints. It is imperative that the event organisers, the Gardai and the OPW get it right this time. Dublin City Council must ensure that the commitments given by the event organisers, Gardai and the OPW are actually delivered and there is no repeat of the horrible scenes from last years concerts. Public order must be maintained at all times and safety of residents and concert goers asserted. Mary
