Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Green Party I welcome this legislative initiative. It is meaningful and it matters. It is because Irish people, including the Irish sporting and music-following public really care. They are seeking a step towards fairness. Like other speakers, I welcome all those who had anything to do with this, including the current Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the former Deputy, Noel Rock, who is probably at home watching this. He should be proud of his contribution.

Several speakers have mentioned the genuine supporter and the stereotypical day in Croke Park, when we see someone who has a ticket to spare at short notice selling it for face value from one genuine GAA supporter to another. I often wondered not about questioning the bona fides of the seller but of the person who received the ticket. I am sure the seller was a good judge of person, although he or she had only a split second to make up his mind. It galls me to think that the person who received it could then sell it on seconds later for a multiple of the face value.

The orderly legislative purpose of this Bill comes into sharp focus when we think of contact tracing, which will be around for some time to come. Contact tracing will be far more difficult to do if the black market is alive and well. Moreover, with maximum capacity in many stadiums not back yet, there is need for as much fairness as possible. Some stadiums are by nature small. I think of the stadium in Newbridge. Newbridge or nowhere, it is a fantastic atmospheric cauldron but tickets are always in great demand and not everyone can go.

I note that notification was made to the EU Commission and, seemingly, there was no issue in respect of compatibility. The legal advice has come back that despite the question over property rights, which this would qualify under, the property rights of ticket sellers are not unlimited. This right is not unfettered. On foot of that advice, the Minister of State is proceeding to do something that will no doubt make an impact and help consumers.

With the little time I have left I will mention one other matter. It is something for another day when we are talking about sporting events. It is the use of drone recording from immediately outside the stadium. This has the advantage of a vital three or four seconds of advanced transmission over the live feed. If there is betting as a live sporting event unfolds, at the moment this is not captured in Irish law.