Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 9, line 8, to delete “1,000 persons or more” and substitute “an event or events”.

This amendment is designed to remove the requirement for there to be 1,000 persons or more and to replace it with the words: "an event or events" and not to have 1,000 persons stated in the provision. There are a number of reasons I am proposing this amendment. The Minister of State will know as I do that many events with fewer than 1,000 people in attendance see tickets sold at over the face value and that is an issue. This is also something in the context of the pandemic that is going to become perhaps a bigger issue in the short term than it might otherwise be because, for a great many venues, their numbers are going to be restricted. It is restricted numbers which are driving up the prices in many instances. We know that people are going into the marketplace, purchasing in bulk and then selling on, which is a significant problem. That is a problem that is exacerbated when bigger venues, even venues that could reasonably accommodate over 1,000 people, for the next while may not be able to accommodate more than 1,000 people. We need to give some consideration to broadening this definition.

If one takes the trial sporting and music events, five of them have fewer than 1,000 people who will be in attendance. I understand that for the first few trial events, the tickets are going to be tightly controlled but that is not going to be the case for every event. As hospitality begins to open up, it is not going to be a matter of clicking one's fingers and being back to February 2020 by any manner or means. Consideration should be given as this is a long-term issue, but is highly pertinent in the short term, given the restrictions and the likelihood in many of these venues that tickets will be very much sought after. We are all eager to get back to some kind of normal live entertainment, whatever it is that one wants to be doing, be it sports, music or whatever. With the current climate and the restrictions in place, this is highly pertinent but it is pertinent in any event and I would welcome hearing the Minister of State's views on this issue.