Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether the current regulatory framework for the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events is fit for purpose; if she is the lead Minister in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3727/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, there is ongoing public concern about the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events. In response to that concern, I recently launched a public consultation on the issue together with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Tourism and Sport. Though ticket resale has been the subject of considerable comment, there is a lack of reliable information about important aspects of the practice, including its extent, the sources of tickets put up for resale, and the prices achieved, as opposed to advertised, on the secondary ticket market. The aim of the consultation is to provide us with a better understanding of the issue and to help us identify the practical measures that might be taken to give consumers fairer access to tickets in the future. Those measures may include changes to the existing regulatory framework. That will be determined following an assessment of the responses to the consultation and other relevant factors.

My Department has overall responsibility for consumer protection. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Tourism and Sport have a role on the issue because of the wish to ensure that fans can access tickets for sporting events on fair terms and because of commitments given to UEFA in connection with the Euro 2020 Championship and to be given to World Rugby in connection with the bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Major concerts and sporting events also draw large numbers of visitors to Ireland and are important for the tourism sector.