The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has gone after the youth vote by opening up the prospect of a second U2 concert at Slane.
In response to a national outcry over the failure to meet demand for the group's August gig, Mr Ahern yesterday announced a new licensing system for outdoor concerts would be introduced "as a priority".
On Sunday a spokesman for the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, had said the Minister could not intervene since a second concert was a planning matter. However, in yesterday's statement, Mr Dempsey, who is in Canada for the St Patrick's Day celebrations, said he was "more than happy" to bring forward work on this matter.
The news was greeted with delight by Henry Lord Mount Charles, the owner of the venue. He said he had been inundated with letters, telephone calls and e-mails from people wanting a second date.
"I am absolutely delighted that this legislation now looks like it might be forthcoming. I have been calling for it for years."
The legislation means permission for holding a concert will no longer be subject to planning laws, with their often lengthy appeals process.
Now local authority officials, in this case Meath County Council, will make the ultimate decision, explained a spokesman for the Department of the Environment.
There were no promises in the Taoiseach's statement that a second U2 gig would happen. However, the spokesman said the new regulations would make the application process much quicker. "But we don't want to be drawn on individual cases."
Lord Mount Charles said he did not know if a second gig was now possible, but its prospect had been "pretty negligible" up until yesterday's statement, which had altered the situation "pretty dramatically".
Mr Ahern said it had been clear for some time the planning system was not appropriate for considering applications for outdoor events.
The new licensing system will be introduced by statutory regulations at the earliest possible date. These regulations can be formally made only when resolutions approving them have been passed.