Industry News

Irish gov to back anti-touting bill – report

The Irish government is reportedly set to back a bill that seeks to outlaw the resale of tickets above face value.

The Irish Examiner reports that MP’s Noel Rock and Stephen Donnelly are to meet with Department of Business officials this week following the completion of a review of the industry in the country.

It is anticipated that the government will back the anti-touting legislation, meaning raising ticket prices above face value would be illegal. 

The two officials introduced the Prohibition of Above-Cost Ticket Touting Bill in January 2017, which pushed forward a public consultation on secondary ticketing.

The consultation, which wrapped up last May, acquired input from promoter Aiken Promotions; consumer groups ECC Ireland and the Consumers’ Association of Ireland; sports governing bodies GAA, FAI and IRFU; primary ticket agencies Ticketmaster Ireland and Tickets.ie; and several secondary sites, including StubHub, Seatwave and Viagogo. Both the primary and secondary ticket agencies that responded were opposed to further regulation.

According to the Irish Examiner, Donnelly and Rock will jointly present a private members’ bill that would outlaw the above-face value reselling of tickets, which will then be accepted by the Irish government.

“This will change mindsets,” Donnelly said according to the Examiner. “Anyone trying to sell at an inflated price will be breaking the law. It will be a culture change.”

Image: Martin Fisch