Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she plans introducing legislation to curb excessive booking fees whereby the ticket-selling companies can no longer charge multiple handling fees on the one transaction and to force them to charge a flat fee per transaction as opposed to a fee per ticket. [2988/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am aware of the practice whereby ticket-selling companies charge handling fees in respect of each ticket regardless of the number of tickets purchased in a single transaction. I am not convinced, however, that legislative action to curb this practice would necessarily be in the best interest of the consumer. For example, ticket-selling companies might consider that the present system spreads their handling costs evenly, and that if charges were to be applied on a per transaction basis, then consumers purchasing single tickets or smaller numbers of tickets might experience price increases. However, the Consumer Information (Advertisement for Concert or Theatre Performances) Order 1997 provides a measure of transparency for consumers in regard to prices and charges for concert tickets. This order is actively enforced by the Director of Consumer Affairs.