Ministers Kelly and Coffey announce revised Event Licensing Regulations

23/06/15

Following consultation with Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Paudie Coffey T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government,  announced  today (23 June, 2015) that he recently signed revised event licensing regulations.

The following are some of the main changes being introduced under the new Regulations:

• It will now be mandatory for event promoters to have a pre-application consultation meeting with the relevant local authority prior to submitting an event licence application.

• Event licence applications will not be accepted by a local authority unless a pre-application consultation meeting has already taken place with the event promoter.

• Event promoters will not be entitled to advertise or sell tickets for events prior to the holding of a pre-application consultation meeting with the relevant local authority.

• Where tickets for events have been advertised and sold prior to the holding of a pre-application consultation meeting, an application for an event licence will not be accepted by the relevant local authority.

• Event licensing applications must be lodged with the relevant local authority at least 13 weeks in advance of the proposed event (currently 10 weeks).

• Local authorities must make their decision on an event licence application no later than 4 weeks in advance of the proposed event.

• Where it is proposed to add performances to a schedule already announced, a further pre-application consultation meeting will be required to take place before the announcement of any additional dates.

• The public consultation period in relation to event licence applications is being reduced to 3 weeks (currently 5 weeks).

The new regulations follow on from the establishment of a Review Group in October 2014 by Minister Kelly to examine the event licensing regulations and to make recommendations on possible changes to the legislative regime further to issues which arose in relation to the licensing of certain proposed outdoor events in the summer of 2014. The Review Group – which was chaired by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and comprised representation from other Government Departments, state agencies and local authorities – met six times during the period October 2014 to March 2015.

The Review Group also met with the four main promoters of outdoor events in Ireland (MCD, Aiken Promotions, Festival Republic and POD) who were invited to make presentations of their experience with the existing legislative provisions and to suggest possible changes that might be required.

In addition, the Review Group initiated a month long public consultation in November 2014 during which some 50 submissions were received from venue owners, residents associations, local authorities, statutory bodies, industry operators and members of the public.  All submissions received during the public consultation have been published on the Department’s website.

“In establishing the review of the event licensing regulations, I was particularly anxious to ensure that the issues and confusion which arose in 2014 in relation to the licensing of specific outdoor events would not be repeated and that there would be a greater level of certainty for all parties – including event promoters, venue owners and residents living close to such venues – in relation to the conducting of such events in the future”, stated Minister Kelly.

Minister Coffey Said; “Large outdoor music events are becoming an increasing phenomenon, particularly in the summer months, with increasing numbers of major international acts coming to Ireland. These events also bring large numbers of visitors to our shores with significant benefits for our tourism industry”.

“The changes announced to the current event licensing regime are intended to ensure that we have more fit for purpose and streamlined procedures in place in relation to the granting of event licences. In particular, the idea of promoters advertising and selling tickets for events before having any pre-application consultation meeting with the relevant local authority in relation to a proposed event is a practice that should not be allowed to happen. The new arrangements will prevent this from happening in the future”, he added.

“I am confident that the new changes now being introduced – which represent a balance of the views of all stakeholders involved – will put in place fair and reasonable arrangements in relation to the conducting of events and provide the necessary certainty in this regard”, concluded Minister Coffey.

A copy of the new regulations is available on environ.ie.  The Regulations will come into effect on 1 October 2015.

ENDS

Press  Office Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct) (01) 888 2000 E-Mail: press-office@environ.ieWeb site: www.environ.ie Twitter:@EnvironPress