Bill to outlaw ticket touting

The Government has accepted a Fine Gael Bill to outlaw ticket touting. In an unusual move, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, said he accepted the principle of the Bill introduced by Mr Denis Naughten (FG, Longford-Roscommon).

Mr Naughten said the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill aimed to make it a criminal offence to advertise or offer for sale a ticket for a musical, sporting or theatrical event above the face value of the ticket.

He said the practice of touting "has become so familiar in Ireland that touts are advertising in papers and even setting up agencies which can guarantee tickets for previously sold-out events".

Accepting the principle of the Bill, Dr McDaid said he had concerns with aspects of the legislation which he hoped could be satisfactorily dealt with at committee stage.

The Minister said "exorbitant prices are extracted while genuine fans cannot get access to the sporting and cultural events they have voluntarily supported and followed all their lives".

Ms Mary Hanafin (FF, Dun Laoghaire) said the "real touts" were the official ticket-sellers and companies which charge a compulsory booking fee for sporting and cultural events. This is "blatant exploitation of young people and totally unjustifiable".

The debate continues tonight.