Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak on this vitally important legislation. I thank the Tánaiste for speaking on it. In preparation for this debate I looked at a very old picture of a fresh-faced Deputy Denis Naughten with my predecessor, as Deputy for my constituency, Alan Shatter, preparing legislation in this area; that was not today or yesterday. I pay particular credit to our colleague, former Deputy Noel Rock, who spent so much time and effort in the last Dáil on this legislation along with the current Minister for Health. I share with Deputy O'Reilly the sheer despondency of not getting to a match or gig for so long. Many of us are already dreaming of the day, hopefully not too far away, when we return to our favourite venue or stadium to enjoy the experience of sport, arts and culture. It really is a lived experience. No matter what the efforts of the television companies and very inventive artists online have been, nothing compares to being there.

Crucially, being there has to mean something - it should mean being open to everyone. It should not be simply thrown to the wolves and to people who can bid the highest or take the opportunity to play on the emotional attachment of so many people to their team or artist. I have been going to Ireland rugby matches since 1991. When England came over, there were always tales of tickets selling for €1,500 or €2,000. It always made me sick to the stomach that someone could put a price on the hours I put in at my club, be it coaching mini-rugby or washing jerseys or whatever else. A price cannot be put on that commitment to a chosen sport or activity. That is why this legislation is so important.

I will point out a couple of things within the legislation about which I hope we will potentially see a little more clarity on Committee Stage. I fear, to use a horrible phrase, there may be some unintended consequences. I refer to Part 3, section 18, which provides an exemption to the ban on reselling tickets over the original price when the sale of a ticket is on behalf of a charitable organisation or an amateur sports club, as well as an exemption to the requirement to provide information on the original sale price of said ticket. We need to ensure the definition and clarity is in this legislation because the last thing we want is a GAA, rugby or soccer club finding itself breaking the law because it is holding a fundraising raffle or is trying to get in some much-needed funds to build up the grassroots of the sport. That clarity is so important.

It is certainly the experience of my club and many clubs within my constituency that they rely on ticket sales, be they for international or inter-provincial games, and the goodwill of the national governing bodies of their sports to ensure they can roll those tickets out. I want to make sure those rights are protected and that the many grey areas surrounding this are boxed off to ensure they do not have a negative impact. We need to have balance regarding local and community sports. No fan should ever have to pay twice or even five times the cost of a ticket to see a match or concert, but we have to acknowledge the important role ticket sales play within our sporting organisations.

As I said, I really look forward to getting back to the Royal Dublin Society, RDS, the Aviva stadium, Croke Park or wherever it may be, hopefully this summer or very soon. I use the opportunity of the Tánaiste's presence in the House to underline the importance of looking with an ambitious eye on how we can get fans back to matches, concerts, festivals and events, not just in the coming months or throughout the summer, but possibly in the coming weeks. We should look at the ambitious and sensible proposals from various sporting bodies to do trial runs. We have heard the news, announced today, that Northern Ireland will allow a thousand fans attend matches. We have all seen the experimental concerts in Barcelona and how many fans will be able to get to the Champions League final and to Wembley.

It is so important we use this time to ensure we get people back, because I absolutely hope and aspire to be at a fully attended Ireland rugby match in November in the Aviva stadium. I look forward to that, as many of us do. I look forward to ensuring tickets are available through all the streams and no fans get ripped off, that we have a mechanism where clubs and community organisations can use these vital tickets to ensure the next generation is supported and to ensure community roll out and that fans have a safe and proper way to resell tickets if they cannot go to an event. Not everyone who resells a ticket is looking to make a fast buck or profit; many people may be season ticket holders. There are plenty of examples of websites where tickets can be sold on or where ticket exchanges can take place.

We have to ensure that this legislation protects the rights of fans and that we do not have any empty seats at sold-out matches or concerts. We must ensure that the lived fan experience is just as important as ever. Sport, in particular, as well as culture, music and the arts, goes to very fabric of this country. We come together so well when we have that collective support, whether it is for a national, county or provincial team. It is so important that we ensure those tickets are there, that people can access them, that they are affordable and do not become the playthings of corporate entities and are not abused and that we retain the ability to ensure there are no empty seats.

That is why this legislation is so welcome. I am so grateful that the Tánaiste has brought it forward and I look forward to working with him and the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Troy, as this goes through the various Stages in the House. We have to make sure we put fans, spectators and people who have committed their adult lives to their chosen sport, art or cultural passion at the very heart of this legislation, and that there are no unintended consequences detrimental to their involvement and engagement. This legislation is long overdue and extremely welcome. I commend the Tánaiste on bringing it to the House.

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