Brooks should not penalise fans if Ireland ‘dear to his heart’

Country singer Garth Brooks should not penalise the people who bought tickets for his concerts since Ireland is “dear to his heart”, the Dáil has heard.

Fine Gael backbencher Jerry Buttimer said Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork would be a good venue for the remaining two concerts after Dublin city council granted licences for three of the five concerts.

The singer said last night after the council’s decision that he would do five concerts or none at all.

The Cork South-Central TD described the situation regarding the concerts as “farcical” and said it was a pity “there isn’t more engagement between everybody involved - Dublin city council, the residents or the GAA”.

“I think Garth Brooks is wrong to demand five concerts or nothing,” Mr Buttimer said.

“If Ireland is the place that he thinks, as he said himself, is dear to his heart then he shouldn’t penalise the people who bought tickets. Or he shouldn’t penalise the supporters of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael who are funding games development.”

Mr Buttimer said the news was a pity but showed the point for those involved in sport and politics, be it at local or an official level, that there’s a need for constant engagement and dialogue.

Fine Gael TD John O’Mahoney appealed for some solution to be found to allow the five concerts to go ahead in Croke Park. He suggested the solution could involve no concerts there next year “or for a couple of years”.

The former GAA manager and player said he had some of the happiest moments of his life at Croke Park and some of the saddest. He said he had booked tickets for a Garth Brooks concert and “I’m not a music buff”.

“I’d be prepared to put my money that there won’t be any trouble,” the Mayo TD said.

The two TDs were speaking during a debate on the private member's Valuation Bill introduced by Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen, which aims to reduce rates for sports clubs which have a licensed bar on their premises.

Mr Cowen said sports clubs across the State were being charged commercial rates on dressing rooms and sports halls as well as their bar.

Under the Bill clubs would only be charged rates on the part of their property licensed to sell alcohol. He said this would free up extra money for cash-strapped clubs to invest in their facilities.

Mr Cowen, the Fianna Fáil environment spokesman, said that perhaps the best way to deal with the issue was through an amendment to the Valuation (Amendment) Bill currently going through the Seanad.

If the Government accepted the amendment, he said it would allow sports clubs make an application to the Commissioner of Valuation seeking a “revision” of their commercial rates paid to their local authority.

Minister of State Paul Kehoe said he would not oppose the Bill at this stage but he repeatedly highlighted technical issues in the legislation. He said the Bill would go before the finance and public expenditure and reform committee and added that licensed vintners should also be given their say.

Government backbencher Regina Doherty welcomed the legislation and said it was time the issue was dealt with. The Meath East TD said the current situation was "wrong" and "unfair" and had to be dealt with.

Her party colleague Helen McEntee said it was “absolutely ridiculous” that commercial rates were being charged for changing rooms, showers and meeting areas.

The Meath East TD said one club in Meath had an annual rates bill of €20,000 and at least 10 clubs in Meath were in difficulty and in arrears.