There is an air of disbelief in both the country and the city about the fact what would have been a major economic project in its own right will not be proceeding. I refer to the cancellation of the five Garth Brooks concerts. It is estimated that this will cost the city €50 million at a minimum. However, many people believe that the financial hit to the economy will be far greater. Some 70,000 ticket holders were due to travel here from abroad to attend the concerts. That would have been a huge fillip for the tourism industry. A total of 400,000 fans will be obliged to have their tickets refunded and there is also the question of ancillary booking fees. In addition, some 200,000 hotel bookings will be disrupted. This is an exceptional economic setback by any yardstick. We must also consider the reputational damage that has been done in terms of the capacity of the country and the city to host major events. Part of our tourism strategy has been to make Ireland an attractive location for significant events of this nature.

The Taoiseach stated in Berlin last week that he hoped everyone involved could work something out. All three of the One Direction concerts held at Croke Park recently passed without incident. It appears that at no stage were the promoters or the GAA informed that licences would not be granted for all five Garth Brooks concerts. There was talk about major restrictions, hurdles to be traversed and significant issues relating to transportation and security. However, at no stage was a significant indication given that the licences would not be granted. Surely the Government should have intervened at some point in respect of this debacle. Either the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government or the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport should have become involved, particularly in light of the enormity of the event and the implications relating to its cancellation. Why did the Government not intervene in a hands-on way? Goodwill alone is not enough. Where there is a will, there is a way out of these situations.

Will the Taoiseach examine the possibility of allocating Government time in order that the House might consider the legislation which Deputy Dooley has drafted and which would provide a mechanism to facilitate appeals and to allow for reviews by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government? I am of the view that the Opposition would support the Government were it to facilitate legislation of that kind, particularly in light of the significant economic implications involved. Many hoteliers, restaurant owners and young people seeking work simply cannot believe that the country can almost nonchalantly say "We do not really need that".

Get rid of Keegan.

I am as disappointed as anyone else that Ireland has lost this major musical event involving an international artist whose appeal is global in many respects. It is true to say that the loss to the economy will be of the order of €50 million, that 400,000 fans were due to turn up, that 70,000 of those were due to travel here from abroad and that 200,000 bookings were made in respect of B&Bs, guesthouses, hotels and so on. I have received a deluge of messages from people who bought tickets and who had made arrangements in respect of making a day of it with their families or friends. Of course, the money they paid out will now be refunded.

The Deputy inquired as to why the Government did not intervene.

It is supposed to be governing.

Dublin City Council made its decision in accordance with current planning regulations. Were the Government to have stepped in and said that three One Direction concerts had already been held and that the five involving another artist fell outside the agreed parameters, it would certainly have been accused of coming the heavy.

Major acts have been involved in huge outdoor concerts at locations throughout the country, including Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Semple Stadium, Limerick, Kilkenny and the RDS and Croke Park in Dublin, on previous occasions and no difficulties or hitches arose. There is a need to consider how the process operates. I have asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to examine the operational regulations. These certainly need to be considered in the context of the timeline requirements for the submission of applications by event organisers, the consideration of such applications by the relevant planning authority in advance of a series of events or concerts taking place and the absence of a specific appeals mechanism regarding decisions made in respect of event licences. Of course, judicial review is an option which can be considered in the latter context. These three issues must be examined in respect of Croke Park.

I have seen Deputy Dooley's Bill and I accept that it is genuine in nature. As the Deputy stated yesterday, the Government can consider it and make any changes it considers necessary. I will absolutely examine the legislation which has been brought forward. In the context of the conversation I had with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the relevant regulations, let us see if there is something positive Government can do in order that this cannot happen again. The cancellation of this event is a major loss to the country. It will have an impact on the goodwill of all those fans of Garth Brooks, not to mention the hard economic impact it will have on so many others. It is a mess. There is an issue here to which consideration must be given. That is why the Government did not intervene. Dublin City Council made its decision based on the existing planning regulations. I will examine Deputy Dooley's Bill in order to discover whether it might be used in some form or other to allow the Government to consider the three points to which I refer.

The Taoiseach stated yesterday that this matter was badly handled and that what has happened is a shock to the system. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, said it is a major embarrassment. Other Ministers have made similar comments. What most people are asking is what is going to be done now. Can it be rescued in any shape or form?

Today.

I welcome the fact the Taoiseach stated that he will examine Deputy Dooley's legislation. However, is that for the long term or will it be done right now?

Here and now.

The legislation is specifically tailored to deal with the issue of the cancelled concerts immediately because it would facilitate a review mechanism in respect of the decision taken by Dublin City Council regarding the licence application relating to the Garth Brooks concerts. The legislation could have immediate application.

This week the guillotine is being applied to a number of Bills and we have co-operated with the Government in that regard. It is not beyond the capacity of the Oireachtas to pass emergency legislation, if necessary, and also to give a clear signal that, in view of our current financial circumstances, we need to engage with major economic projects of this kind in a hands-on way. In that context, I understand there were no face-to-face meetings with residents who live near Croke Park. Certain news media outlets have reported that some objections to the concerts were forged. I am not saying that all of them were because people obviously lodged legitimate objections. I understand that some of the negotiations which took place gave rise to the significant concessions of no concerts being held at the venue next year. That would have been a major win for the residents who had objections to this series of concerts. Meaningful efforts were made by some actors in the process in terms of trying to mediate a solution. Ultimately, there is no point in people wringing their hands and saying that what has happened is both terrible and a great embarrassment.

Efforts should be made to retrieve the situation.

Is anyone going to take action and can the situation be retrieved or rescued?

The Government should be businesslike about it.

I request that the Government consider the legislation that has been put forward.

We would support its passage in this House and get some advice on it. We accept that it is open to amendment and change.

When this problem arose the controversy began and it probably will not end now; there may well be court implications. Several people made valid suggestions from a common-sense point of view on how this might be sorted out - in particular, the chairman of the Labour Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey, who went to considerable lengths to explain what they could do to make this happen and give the fans the opportunity to see an artist in whom they have a particular interest.

Deputy Martin knows the position. Let us suppose the Government decided to intervene with emergency legislation. First of all, we would be accused of doing down the rights of residents, who have rights, of course. Second, we would be accused of interfering with a planning process that the city council has a duty and a responsibility to deal with. That is why it is necessary to look at these issues.

Deputy Martin asked whether this was for the immediate term. Even if we took Deputy Dooley's proposition and his Bill, we would still be bound to have a period of public consultation. It is not a case of simply introducing emergency legislation through the Dáil tomorrow. On an issue such as this, in which such large numbers are involved, we need to have a process of public consultation to get it right. I take the Deputy's best effort but in respect of the timeline, the decision on applications by the relevant planning authority and an appeals mechanism, we need to put in place a system that actually works.

In this country we have been renowned for the reception and welcome we give to so many major outdoor events. They have been going on for years and have been planned without any great difficulties other than the usual failings whereby people might get into trouble on the fringes of concerts. We have had them in major GAA stadiums and other locations throughout the country. They have all been planned and all have followed a process and were exceptionally successful. In this case, there were three events earlier in the year and planning for three further events was granted. That was unacceptable to the artist, who wanted five. Obviously, the costs involved in these things are enormous. We will give attention to Deputy Dooley's observations and look at the specific issues, but it is not for decision this week.

They are too busy with the reshuffle.

It is a case of putting in place a process that will work, such that, in the case involving Croke Park, this kind of problem will not arise again. I am very disappointed that it has not happened and that it will not happen now. It is a bitter economic lesson to have learned. However, there are processes that have to be put in place. They work everywhere else and they should work here as well.