Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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649. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had discussions with sporting bodies regarding the exorbitant rates of resale tickets to major sporting events; his views on whether more can be done to prevent resale inflation for sporting events including ticket touting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5857/17]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, 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 this concern, I met with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation when I returned from the Olympics along with officials from my department. Minister Mitchell O'Connor has overall responsibility for consumer protection. Subsequent to that  meeting Minister Mitchell O'Connor, Minister Ross and I recently launched a public consultation on the issue. 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 to identify any practical measures that might be taken to give consumers fairer access to tickets in the future. The consultation period will end on 31 March 2017 and I look forward to the matter being progressed as soon as possible thereafter.