Ticketmaster is not abusing its dominant position in the Irish market, the Competition Authority has ruled.
The authority also concluded that an exclusive agreement between the company and Ireland's two largest event organisers, MCD promotions and Aiken Promotions, does not prevent, restrict or distort competition.
The authority did express concerns, however, over the level of transparency in booking fees charged to consumers when purchasing tickets through the company's outlets. It said it had brought these concerns to the attention of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the National Consumer Agency.
The ruling follows a two-year investigation into the activities of the outsourced ticketing firm and was prompted by thousands of complaints from consumers, including one petition signed by over 8,000 people.
Consumers complained about the level of booking fees charged by the firm and also cited tours by major artists in which Irish consumers were charged more for the same show than those in comparable European cities.
But the company was cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to prices. The authority said that MCD and Aiken, in conjunction with the artist involved, set the face value of every ticket sold by Ticketmaster.
Explaining differing prices for similar concerts across Europe, the body said that domestic promoters must compete aggressively with promoters in other countries to convince high-profile artists to perform in Ireland.
"Therefore, high-profile artists have strong bargaining power in their negotiations with promoters and can command substantial appearance fees, which, in turn, are reflected in the ticket price that consumers pay," it concluded.
Ticketmaster Managing Director Eamonn O'Connor welcomed the ruling and said that the company had been providing "an excellent, value-for-money service for millions of music, culture and sporting fans in Ireland for years."
"This report not only confirms that but endorses our business practices," he said.