Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept that clarification. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which is an independent body, is currently investigating the ticket resale market from a competition law angle. It will publish a report soon.

I agree with Deputy Crowe that gambling, which is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality, is a scourge that impacts on people and can destroy lives and the lives of families.

As indicated earlier, the responses have been put up on the website of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to encourage further consideration of all the issues involved and to encourage all interested parties to examine them. In addressing the issue of ticket resale, I believe that this House will agree that there is an overarching need to be sure that any legislation, if proposed as part of any plan to address the issues, is carefully examined and that any such legislation would be effective and targeted and would not give rise to unwelcome and unintended consequences such as the driving of ticket reselling underground or diverting it to other countries with no real benefit to consumers.

The Bill will go to committee. I am no longer a member of the Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Like all committees, it is extremely busy. It has set out a work programme. A considerable amount of time will need to be spent on this important work. Nine months was given to allow for that as well as the fact that we have a break from July to mid-September. The nine months does not mean that it cannot be dealt with in two months, if that is what the committee decides. The committee ultimately, however, has to decide how it can fit it in. If it can come back before the summer recess with recommendations, that would be great and it can be moved from there.

Again, I thank all Deputies for their comments on the Bill.

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