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Sam Boal

'Nothing has changed': Laois County Council says it can't revisit Electric Picnic decision

The council decided not to grant a licence to the festival earlier this month.

LAST UPDATE | 25 Aug 2021

THERE IS “NO provision in law” to revisit the refusal of a licence for Electric Picnic to take place next month, Laois County Council has said. 

In a statement, the council said “nothing has changed” in terms of advice from the HSE or government policy measures about outdoor events.

It said that “notwithstanding the comments emanating from yesterday’s press briefing from NPHET”, the situation remains the same. 

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said the National Public Health Emergency Team would not be opposed from a public health perspective to large events taking place with only vaccinated people in attendance.

“We wouldn’t have a concern from a public health point of view to express about an event that happened that was confined to vaccinated people,” he said.

However, the council said there is “no provision in law” which enables it to revisit its original refusal of the licence or reconsider the original application. 

“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,” it added. 

Electric Picnic promoters said they needed an answer by the end of today from the council after they reapplied for a licence to hold the event next month.

Speaking this afternoon on RTÉ’s News at One programme, Caroline Downey from MCD productions said they had reapplied for a licence but needed an answer by the end of the day in order to ensure the festival could go ahead.

She said without a response it would be likely that the organisation of the festival would have to go under review by the organisers, said Downey.

Earlier this month, Laois County Council released a statement saying that the licence was not being granted for the event which takes place in Stradbally every summer.

The statement said: “The decision has been made following the most up-to-date public health advice made available to the Council from the HSE.”

“Furthermore, it is noted that under current government measures for the management of Covid-19, events of this nature are restricted to an attendance of 500 people only.”

Speaking about the construction of the stage and facilities required from Electric Picnic Downey said: “We should have started last week, so the build will be starting this week but we would need to start as soon as possible and work morning, noon and night to get it up and done.” 

Covid-19 rules currently limit numbers at organised outdoor events to 500 at venues with capacity in excess of 5,000.

With reporting from Hayley Halpin and Orla Dwyer

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    Mute Larry David the 2nd
    Favourite Larry David the 2nd
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:41 PM

    Ok advertising works cos I am getting me one of those babies ASAP.

    432
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    Mute Red Marauder
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:52 PM

    This must have every peeping Tom drooling!

    221
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    Mute dstaffx
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:20 PM

    Can it see through curtains?

    123
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    Mute David Carino
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    Jul 4th 2015, 7:12 PM

    only shower curtains

    68
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    Mute Oliver
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:43 PM

    I want it…

    108
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 4th 2015, 8:10 PM

    I went and checked and for some strange reason there is a shortage. Berminghams say 6 weeks wait and camera.ie have 10 on backorder and you have to pay full price €650 up front. Oh well.

    30
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    Mute cosmological
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:48 PM

    Excellent, thank you Journal.

    94
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    Mute CW
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:47 PM

    That’s crazy stuff, holy mother of Devine Julie’s Caesar’s àrses bloody banana….

    Must get me one of them.

    82
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    Mute Pee Shank
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    Jul 4th 2015, 7:20 PM

    amazing

    1
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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Jul 4th 2015, 5:58 PM

    A Nikon D3200 or a Sony A58 would cost €450 including a 18-55mm kit lens. Either camera is far superior to the Nikon Coolpix p900. The D3200 is a DSLR, the the A58 is an SLT and the Coolpix is a bridge camera. The Coolpix is quite good up to 83x but it cannot be compared to a DSLR.

    32
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    Mute Pee Shank
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:07 PM

    Wow

    1
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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:18 PM

    Tap, all very true but “Bridge” cameras sell very well for a reason. Most people see them them as being a very acceptable compromise answering all their needs in one piece of reasonably priced kit. Modern bridge cameras are really quite superb…within their operational parameters.

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Jul 4th 2015, 6:32 PM

    Agreed Joseph. I have the Nikon Coolpix P900 and a Sony HX400v – both are superb bridge cameras. I also have a Sony A58 and a Sony A77ii – both are excellent DSLRs (SLTs).

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    Mute Maximus
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    Jul 4th 2015, 7:50 PM

    Very impressive, WoW!.

    23
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    Mute Paul Mc Nulty
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    Jul 4th 2015, 8:28 PM

    Tony and Joseph comparing their cox…

    22
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    Mute Gemma Shah
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    Jul 4th 2015, 9:31 PM

    My Uncle visited last week toting one of these. Totally in awe. Well worth the money I reckon.

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    Mute Kemberlee Shortland
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    Jul 5th 2015, 1:45 AM

    My Canon Powershot SX60 does the same shot of the moon, if not better.

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    Mute Eoin
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    Jul 5th 2015, 12:41 AM

    Paparazzi wet dream.

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    Mute Ger Clifford
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    Jul 5th 2015, 12:05 AM

    So does my Canon 18x zoom SX600hs.

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    Mute Una Simms
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    Jul 5th 2015, 12:48 PM

    eh..I dunno…..I’d like the zoom to go a little closer….. This just doesn’t try hard enough…….. (awesome actually)

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    Mute cp
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    Jul 5th 2015, 10:35 AM

    Now that’s impressive! Definitely putting that on my wish list!!

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