Vol. 455 No. 5
102 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice if the Garda will prosecute the promoters of the recent Dance Nation event and the owners of the Point Theatre in view of widespread reports that drugs were sold at this event causing a young man's death. [12645/95]
107 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice if she has received a preliminary Garda report on the Dance Nation event attended by up to 6,000 young people at the Point Depot on Saturday, 24 June 1995 at which one person died; if she will review the granting of licences for such rave events, particularly as to age requirements for entry in view of the fact that they are intimately associated with the use of the drug ecstasy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12484/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 107 together.
I have received ongoing reports from the Garda authorities in relation to the investigation into the tragic death of Stephen McMillan and the "Dance Nation" event which he had attended at the Point Depot on Saturday, 24 June, 1995. The investigation will involve the tracing and interviewing of many of the young people who attended the event and this is likely to take some time. The investigation will also consider the degree to which safety and other regulations were adhered to.
Under the Public Dance Halls Act, 1935, persons who wish to hold public dances must apply to the local District Court for a public dancing licence. These licences are renewable on an annual basis, unless revoked or surrendered earlier. The conditions and restrictions attaching to the licence normally include conditions as to the age of customers. Breaches of these conditions and restrictions may result in prosecution and may constitute grounds for revocation of a licence.
The question as to whether the conditions attached to the licence which was granted in respect of The Point Depot were in any way breached will, of course, form part of the Garda investigation.
