Vol. 413 No. 5
179 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education if he intends bringing forward legislation to put in place the recommendations of the Special Committee on Crowd Control and Public Safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Arising from the report of the Hamilton Committee on Public Safety and Crowd Control the Government have decided that the Minister of State at my Department should co-ordinate the response of other Departments in implementing the recommendations contained in the report and giving effect to any necessary legislative changes.
A draft code of practice for safety at Irish sports grounds has been completed and the consultative process on the draft is now commencing.
Consideration is being given in the Department of Justice to the inclusion of legislative proposals in a proposed Criminal Justice Bill to implement those recommendations of the committee which are relevant to that Department, for instance, the provision of statutory powers to the Garda to erect barriers on the approach to stadia/arenas, to confiscate alcohol and for the licensing of indoor and outdoor pop concerts where the anticipated attendance exceeds 2,000 and 5,000, respectively. Consideration is also being given in my Department and the Department of the Environment to the administrative and legislative arrangements which would be required to give effect to the other recommendations contained in the report. Any legislative proposals will be announced in the usual way when they have been considered and approved by Government.
