Bill `would strike blow' at ticket touts

Outlawing ticket touting would strike a blow at the criminal gangs believed to be involved in touting, according to Mr Alan Shatter (FG, Dublin South), who co-sponsored the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill, with the Dail's youngest TD, Mr Denis Naughten (FG, Roscommon-Longford).

Mr Shatter said there was a strong belief that some of those engaged in ticket touting were organised by criminal gangs based either in Britain or this State. The Bill was important in preventing tickets being sold for exorbitant prices and would strike "an important blow" at these gangs and he hoped the Bill could become law before the 1999 All-Ireland finals.

He also called for Irish newspapers to stop publishing advertisements for tickets for sporting and cultural events at above the official ticket price. This was contributing to the problem.

The Bill, introduced on the first of two days of debate by Mr Naughten, seeks to outlaw the touting of tickets at above face value.

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, accepted the Bill in principle although he had some concerns about sections he considered unworkable.

Mr Jack Wall (Lab, Kildare South) called for greater efforts by sporting organisations and official ticket sellers to track tickets from their origin.

He also criticised the participation of "ordinary punters" in selling on their tickets above the official price and said their involvement lent legitimacy to ticket touting.

Mr Pat Rabbitte (Lab, Dublin South West) pointed out that he published a Sale of Tickets Bill in November 1990, similar to the Bill introduced by Mr Naughten but it was rejected as unworkable by the minister of the time, Mr Frank Fahey.

The Minister of State for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, said it was the responsibility of the organisers and promoters of major events to put controls in place to regulate the sale of tickets for these events.

"I note that Deputy Naughten says that many of the sporting organisations support his Bill. While support is to be welcomed, the organisations concerned might usefully look at their distribution arrangements rather than rely on the Oireachtas to resolve a difficulty to which their actions may very well be contributing."

Mr Michael Ring (FG, Mayo) asked where touts were getting the tickets. He said some of the organisations were "bigger touts than the touts out on the streets selling the tickets". He said GAA fans could get to county and provincial finals but when it came to the All-Ireland "it's the corporate people, the people with the money, the people with the boxes, they are more important than the poor old devils on the ground".

The Bill now goes to the committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation.