Laois County Council Cannot Reverse Electric Picnic Application Refusal

There is no provision in law for them to reconsider the initial application.

Laois County Council says it cannot reverse it's decision to refuse a licence application for Electric Picnic.

The local authority says they have no legal avenue to revisit the issue, after the Chief Medical Officer last night said he won't be opposed to fully vacccinated people attending the festival.

In a statement to Midlands 103, the local authority claims there is no provision in law which enables them to revisit the refusal or reconsider the application. 

It says, notwithstanding the comments arising from yesterday’s press briefing from NPHET, nothing has changed as regards advice from the HSE or government public health measures regarding the hosting of outdoor events. 

It also notes that even if a new application for an event licence is made, there isn't enough time for a new application to be processed in time for the dates proposed. 

Speaking earlier today, Managing Director at MCD, Denis Desmond, says the festival going ahead in Stradbally could be a great way to reopen the live entertainment sector:

 

The statement from Laois County Council on the issue reads as follows:

A decision by Laois County Council to refuse the application for an event licence for the Electric Picnic 2021, issued on the 4th August 2021 pursuant to section 231 (3)(a) and (b) of the Planning and Development Act, as amended. The decision was based on the following reasons:

  1. Having regard to the up to date advise from the Health Services Executive in their statutory submission
  2. Having regard to government public health measures currently in place and made pursuant to the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 and the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid -19) (Amendment) Act 2021.

There is no provision in law which enables Laois County Council to revisit that refusal or reconsider that application.

Notwithstanding the comments emanating from yesterday’s press briefing from NPHET nothing has changed as regards advice from the HSE, nor has there been any change to the Government Public Health Measures in place in respect of hosting of outdoor events, from the position that pertained on the 4th August  2021. 

The Planning Authority, Laois County Council, further notes that even if a new application for an event licence is made, the statutory timelines do not allow for the  processing of a new application to facilitate the event on the dates as intended in the application previously submitted.

A decision by Laois County Council to refuse the application for an event licence for the Electric Picnic 2021, issued on the 4th August 2021 pursuant to section 231 (3)(a) and (b) of the Planning and Development Act, as amended. The decision was based on the following reasons:

  1. Having regard to the up to date advise from the Health Services Executive in their statutory submission
  2. Having regard to government public health measures currently in place and made pursuant to the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 and the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid -19) (Amendment) Act 2021.

There is no provision in law which enables Laois County Council to revisit that refusal or reconsider that application.

Notwithstanding the comments emanating from yesterday’s press briefing from NPHET nothing has changed as regards advice from the HSE, nor has there been any change to the Government Public Health Measures in place in respect of hosting of outdoor events, from the position that pertained on the 4th August  2021. 

The Planning Authority, Laois County Council, further notes that even if a new application for an event licence is made, the statutory timelines do not allow for the  processing of a new application to facilitate the event on the dates as intended in the application previously submitted.

More from Midlands News

Download Our App