Electric Picnic: Varadkar reportedly urging government colleagues to intervene and reopen outdoor events

Despite yesterday's news that Laois County Council would not change their decision and grant a license to Festival Republic for Electric Picnic 2021, there are new reports this morning suggesting that attempts are still underway to make the festival happen.

According to Independent.ie, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will be urging his government colleagues to intervene in the decision – and allow the festival and other live outdoor events to go ahead.

This is in contrast to the Government's position that the decision is up to  Laois County Council and Electric Picnic's organisers.

Earlier this week, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan renewed hopes for Electric Picnic, by stating that he had no major concerns about large outdoor events like Electric Picnic going ahead for fully-vaccinated people. Despite this, Laois County Council issued a statement yesterday noting that there is "no provision in law" to change their initial decision.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that Holohan's remarks would need "to be discussed by Cabinet." The Minister also agreed that "the questions being raised by the entertainment sector are reasonable" – particularly following the scenes at Sunday's All-Ireland in Croke Park.

"There has been a mechanism in place for pilot events, that’s what sports events have been under," Donnelly continued. "There should be more pilots to scale up these events and then we can take another look.”

There are hopes that Electric Picnic could – in line with similar events in the UK and other countries – go ahead as a pilot event.

Stay tuned to hotpress.com for further news...