Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very pleased to welcome the Bill, which will end many years of heartache and the taking advantage of enthusiastic concert goers and sports fans. It will mean that sporting and music fans benefit from a fairer sale system for tickets for live events, matches and concerts when the country reopens.

Ticket touts have been a scourge for many years, ripping people off, forcing up ticket prices and raising barriers to getting a ticket in the first place. This new law will make sure that everybody gets a fair price. It is good legislation for fans and it is also good news for sports organisations and artistic performers. The Bill will stop opportunists with no interest or involvement in music or sport from enriching themselves at the expense of sports and music fans.

Importantly, fans will have all the information they need to ensure they are not being ripped off. While, unfortunately, matches and concerts with fans are still some way off, it is expected that the numbers allowed to attend are likely to be restricted in the initial phases of eased restrictions. Ticket touts will only be too willing to exploit the opportunities presented by restricted attendances for popular events over the summer. With this in mind, the Bill includes a provision for the fast-track designation of events or venues if the normal designation procedure cannot be completed before events attended by fans resume. I am pleased that there is an exemption for amateur sports clubs and also registered charities for fundraising purposes.

The legislation will only be as effective as the penalties. To that end, any person found guilty of an offence under the Act will face a fine of up to €100,000 or two years imprisonment.

Once enacted, operators of venues with a capacity to hold 1,000 people or more will be able to apply to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for designation of that venue. Once designated, reselling of tickets above the original sale price for that venue will be prohibited. When a ticket is sold for an event which has been designated, or which is to take place in a designated venue, then the original seller must be given clear information that tickets cannot be resold above face value for the event in question. Resellers of tickets must also provide information on the original sale price of the ticket and the location of the seat or standing area to which the ticket entitles the holder to gain admission.

This legislation is very welcome and will put an end to the unsavoury actions of ticket touts who have for decades, unfortunately, capitalised on the enthusiasm and loyalty of so many fans. It was opportunism at its worst. I commend the Minister and all who have worked on this Bill to this point. I look forward to its implementation.

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