Written answers

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Ticket Touting

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

97. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the legislative and non-legislative proposals being considered by her Department to strengthen the regulation of the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events in view of the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41574/17]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My predecessor as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D., published a consultation paper on the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events on 20 January 2017 along with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the then Minister for Tourism and Sport. The 24 responses to the consultation were published on the Department's website on 9 May 2017. Officials of my Department are currently engaged in follow-up discussions with sporting bodies, event promoters, consumer bodies, primary ticketing service providers and secondary ticket marketplaces with a view to identifying possible measures aimed at helping ensure that ticket markets work better for consumers. My officials are also pursuing enquiries with public authorities in European Union member states with laws that prohibit or restrict ticket resale on the experience with, and effectiveness of, these laws.

On 26 January 2017, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) announced that it had commenced an investigation into suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the provision of tickets and the operation of ticketing services for live events. At that time, the CCPC stated that the investigation would focus primarily on potentially anti-competitive conduct by operators including: those involved in providing tickets and ticketing services, promoters and venues. As part of the investigation, the CCPC stated that it had issued witness summonses and formal requirements for information to a number of parties involved in the sector.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition and consumer law in the State. Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of alleged anti-competitive practices. As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC, I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct function in the matter.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.