Rock event organisers renew calls for urgent legislation following U2 ruling

Fresh calls have been made for urgent legislation to clear up confusion surrounding the staging of rock events following yesterday…

Fresh calls have been made for urgent legislation to clear up confusion surrounding the staging of rock events following yesterday's court ruling allowing U2 to hold two homecoming concerts in Dublin this month.

The Supreme Court decision, which overturns this week's High Court ruling, ends months of uncertainty over efforts to bring the PopMart show to Dublin.

Some 80,000 U2 fans who have spent £2 million on tickets will attend the concerts at Lansdowne Road on August 30th and 31st.

U2's manager, Mr Paul McGuinness, concert promoter, Mr Oliver Barry, and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), which owns Lansdowne Road, warmly welcomed yesterday's ruling.

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Four residents living near the stadium who took last Monday's High Court action against the IRFU to prevent the concert, may now face legal costs.

Mr Shane Cleary, chief executive of the RDS, which hosted recent concerts by Radiohead and Michael Jackson, said last night there was still "enormous confusion" surrounding the staging of pop concerts.

"I still think the matter needs clarification. It would require legislation but I think it's something that the Government should address urgently."

Mr Cleary did not believe the planning mechanism was appropriate for dealing with one-off pop concerts.

He said a system whereby each event was granted a licence by the local authority was one possible solution to the planning confusion.

Mr Frank Murphy, secretary of the GAA Cork County board which owns Pairc Ui Chaoimh where Oasis played last August, said yesterday's judgment provided further proof that "the law is not adequately explicit on the situation". The Dublin Chamber of Commerce said an urgent review of the planning regulation system relating to concerts was needed. Its economic director, Mr Declan Martin, said there was "considerable uncertainty" about other venues.

In court yesterday, counsel for the IRFU explained that due to "special circumstances" it would not take a lenient attitude to costs.

Outside the court, a solicitor for the residents, Mr Paul Meagher, agreed that the bill for the Supreme Court hearings might be substantial. The residents had taken the case at considerable personal sacrifice.

"This case was not about U2 or any other band but the IRFU and how it uses the grounds," he said.