Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004
146 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason for the cancellation of a major concert on 1 May 2004 to celebrate the enlargement of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10609/04]
View answer147 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the alternative celebration which is being put in place for 1 May 2004 following the cancellation of the major concert; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/04]
View answer169 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason the proposed Beautiful Night concert involving Irish and international musicians, which was to be held in O’Connell Street, Dublin, on 1 May 2004, has been cancelled; the alternative being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10643/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 147 and 169 together.
RTE, in partnership with the BBC, has been working on the broadcasting project entitled "A Beautiful Night" for many months. This event was designed to be "one concert with two stages", with public performances outside City Hall in Belfast and on O'Connell Street in Dublin. It was RTE's intention that the concert would be broadcast live from Belfast and Dublin and made available through the EBU network to broadcasters and their audiences throughout the enlarged European Union.
The two broadcasters who were responsible for the organisation of this concert made a joint application to Dublin City Council for a licence to hold the concert in O'Connell Street. However, recently it became apparent to the broadcasters that there would be serious difficulties surrounding the traffic restrictions that would have to be imposed to allow the stage to be built in O'Connell Street in time to allow full safety and sound checks, rehearsals, etc., to take place. Dublin City Council was not in a position to facilitate the broadcasters in this context, given that partial road restrictions would have been required for up to nine days in advance of the event.
I understand that the broadcasters were also advised of other restrictions that would have been imposed. These disruptions could have serious impact on travel and trade over the bank holiday weekend. Accordingly, the two broadcasters decided that, taking account of all the circumstances applying, it is not feasible to proceed with the event in Dublin. I appreciate the reasons it was not possible to proceed.
The staging of an alternative television event on 1 May is a matter for RTE. However, the series of events being organised by my Department around the country to celebrate the accession of the ten new member states will go ahead as planned. These include "Vectorial Elevations", one of the most unique and the world's largest on-line artworks, a fireworks extravaganza, a European fair in Merrion Square and the national "Day of Welcomes" involving ten Irish towns and cities each of which will specially welcome a particular accession state.
