14/08/2017

Political Unity Needed To Tackle Ticket Touting - SF

Sinn Féin have said that political unity is needed to tackle ticket touting.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise and Innovation, Maurice Quinlivan, made the call as he welcomed the GAA's plan seeking to tackle people profiteering from ticket touting.

Teachta Quinlivan said: "Ticket touting is continuing to plague world of entertainment and sport right across Ireland. It is unacceptable that tickets are being sold at multiple times their face value. I welcome the GAA's move to tackle ticket touting, which is exploiting genuine fans, forcing them to pay extortionate prices to see their teams play.

"The GAA have confirmed that dozens of tickets that are being sold online for a profit have been cancelled, and it is likely many more tickets will be cancelled before the next game.

"My legislation, The Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill 2017 seeks to outright ban ticket touting and ensure that ordinary people who need to re-sell their tickets for genuine reasons would be facilitated.

"The sale of tickets above a 10% cap would not be allowed, with those found to be in breach of the legislation facing a €5,000 fine.

"While the legislation is progressing through the Oireachtas, political parties need to show unity on this issue if it is ever to be resolved. The move by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to kick this Bill into touch for nine months shows serious double standards on their part.

"The only thing delaying this legislation is political brinkmanship. Fine Gael's Noel Rock wants the credit for tackling ticket touting but his legislation is weaker than mine and far less advanced in the legislative process.

"If we can put aside the petty political squabbling then this issue can be sorted early in the new term with agreement from government to allow time for my legislation to proceed.

"It does not matter whose name is on the Bill, just so long as it deals with the issue at hand.

"Sinn Féin has the solution to tackle ticket touting, and in supporting our legislation Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will be welcomed."

(MH/LM)

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