Pressure on to reach a compromise for Garth gigs

The final outcome to the saga of the "on-off" Garth Brooks gigs is set to go down to the wire as pressure is put on all sides to reach a compromise.

New Environment Minister Alan Kelly has denied reports that he intervened in the dispute and has ruled out such an action on the grounds that it would break planning laws. He said there was no prospect of him introducing emergency legislation as a means of solving the licence problem and he called on those working towards a solution to move forward with a “period of calm engagement”.

“I am legally precluded from intervening in any individual decision made by a planning authority, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act.