A NORTHSIDE TD has played a major part in convincing the Government to introduce new legislation to deal with ticket touting at major sporting events and concerts.
Last week, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, announced that the Cabinet had agreed on legislative measure to tackle the problem, which has been a growing source of controversy in recent years.
The proposed legislation, which has been drawn up by Dublin North West TD Noel Rock and Fianna Fáil deputy Stephen Donnelly, would ban the above-face value resale of tickets for sporting and entertainment events in designated venues with a capacity of 1,000 or over.
It would also prohibit the use of bot software to purchase tickets in excess of the number permitted by event organisers. The legislation will also give effect to the commitment to UEFA to ban the unauthorised transfer and use of tickets for matches and official events taking place in Ireland during the Euro 2020 Championship.
In order to implement these measures, the Government announced that it will support and amend the Prohibition of Above-Cost Ticket Touting Bill introduced by Deputies Rock and Donnelly.
Minister Humphreys said: “It’s wrong that people who make no contribution to sport or music can profit from the resale of tickets for sell-out matches and shows.
“In doing so, they deprive genuine fans of the opportunity to attend these events, and the time has come to put a stop to it.
“I am confident that this Bill will have the support of the main sporting bodies, of many artists and promoters in the entertainment industry, and of music and sports fans right across the country. It is also a tangible example of new politics at work and in that regard I want to acknowledge the efforts of Deputies Noel Rock and Stephen Donnelly, who have engaged constructively on this matter so we can bring forward workable proposals which will benefit genuine fans. I look forward to continuing to work with both deputies and our Oireachtas colleagues in progressing this Bill.”
Deputy Rock warmly welcomed the minister’s announcement.
“With this legislation accepted by Cabinet, Ireland is set to take the lead in effectively banning ticket touting, subject to the approval of the Dáil. The legislation proposed is ambitious and sensible: it ensures an effective ban on ticket touting and also a ban on bots from snapping up tickets.”
He added: “I have no doubt that for sports and music fans, this legislation will be a game changer. It’s now my ambition that, should this Bill be passed by the Dáil and become law in Ireland, we see other nations across Europe replicating it.
“For a backbencher, getting a Bill before Cabinet has been a new challenge, but one which was aided by Minister Humphreys’ support and foresight.”
Deputy Stephen Donnelly said: “For too long, genuine music and sports fans have been ripped off by organised ticket touting. While there has always been some low-level touting, the move to online sales and 'bots' has brought ticket touting to an industrial scale.”
