THE Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has confirmed he will grant a licence for the planned U2 concert in the Phoenix Park in August.
Mr Higgins announced his policy regarding the Phoenix Park yesterday, saying he was satisfied with an application from Dublin Corporation for a licence for the use of the park by U2 on August 30th. Only one major pay-in event and two free events a year will be allowed.
Dublin Corporation will have the final say after a process of public consultation.
Mr Higgins issued his policy following objections from local residents to the proposed concert.
The scale of the concert envisaged required a venue which can accommodate a crowd of up to 100,000 and the sophisticated stage, video screens and special effects proposed. "It is appropriate that U2 should be able to perform in their home city of Dublin to an Irish audience as part of their current world-wide tour."
Mr Higgins said that to facilitate large-scale cultural, musical and heritage events in the capital city which would otherwise not take place, or which are particularly appropriate to the park, a number of pay-in and free events will be considered each year.
Only special events will be considered, he said, and, then in the context of the Phoenix Park Management Plan.
"Having regard to the potential impact on the park, on its residents and on residents in the vicinity, only a limited number of large-scale one-day public events will be considered for the Phoenix Park in any year in addition to already established events."
It was necessary to have regard to the protection of the park and the maintenance of its essentially tranquil nature, he added.