Government approves anti-ticket touting bill

The Government have approved the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021 today, April 20 – banning "ticket touting and reselling of tickets above face value for large events."

The Bill is expected to be published by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar T.D. and the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy TD shortly, before it is introduced to the Dáil.

Varadkar, who brought forward the bill to be drafted back in September, confirmed the news on social media today, stating that "Ticket touts are on the way out", and it "Will be easier for real fans to get tickets."

Ticket touts are on the way out. Govt approved Sale of Tickets Bill today to ban resale of tickets for large events & venues above face value, making sure everyone gets a fair price. Will be easier for real fans to get tickets. pic.twitter.com/IUcUjbOKMl

— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 20, 2021

The Bill will ban the resale of tickets to live events, matches and concerts in designated events and venues, at a price above face value. There is an exemption for amateur sports clubs and registered charities for fundraising purposes. A person found guilty of an offence under the act will face a fine of up to €100,000 or up to two years imprisonment.

“Ticket touts rip us all off, driving up ticket prices and making it harder to get a ticket in the first place," Varadkar commented. "This new law will ban the resale of tickets to large events and venues at a cost over face value, making sure everyone gets a fair price.

“We’re all looking forward to the day we can go to gigs, festivals and matches again. This law gives me hope. We’re planning for a time when live events are possible again. Numbers will likely be restricted to begin with so it’s even more important that people aren’t ripped off and that tickets go to real fans.

“There is a specific provision in the Bill for the Euro championships later this year, banning the unauthorised sale of tickets for matches. Even though it is hard to know how the championship will proceed this year, we will be pushing to have this new law in place before the 11th of June, when it is scheduled to begin.”

Once enacted, operators of venues with a capacity of over 1,000 will be able to apply for designation of that venue. When designated, reselling of tickets above the original sales price for that venue will be prohibited.

In 2017, former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock and Stephen Donnelly brought forward anti-ticket touting legislation. Rock's contribution was pointed out by Senator John McGahon on Twitter today:

Really great to see that Tainiste progressing this. A lot of credit has to go to @NoelRock who championed this idea when nobody else was talking about it. Fair play Noel! https://t.co/Ui9qtOz1PB

— Senator John McGahon (@John_McGahon) April 20, 2021

See more reactions to the news below:

Great to see this. I originally proposed a Private Members Bill on this with @NoelRock This will be an important measure to stop above price resale of tickets.

Ticket touting bill to be brought before Cabinet today https://t.co/Q2HjuxzYBV via @rte

— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) April 20, 2021

I think everyone has at some stage been rightly annoyed over ticket touting and seeing tickets for popular gigs being resold at double or treble the face value.

Today at Cabinet, we approved a Bill to ban this practice, and protect fans from being exploited by ticket touts. https://t.co/qYoYEHOGTl

— Roderic O’Gorman TD (@rodericogorman) April 20, 2021

🎟 Ticket Touting & Reselling Legislation 🎟

Delighted that Government have approved this legislation today.

While matches and concerts are still some way off, once enacted it will ensure fans are not ripped off. pic.twitter.com/YKCFhlynbv

— Robert Troy TD (@RobertTroyTD) April 20, 2021

Credit to Denis Naughten @DenisNaughten for tabling legislation to ban ticket touting...23 years ago. https://t.co/dhZs2EyeyR "The purpose of the Bill is to make it a criminal offence to advertise for sale, offer for sale or sell a ticket...above its face value."

— Fionnan Sheahan (@fionnansheahan) April 20, 2021

Ticket touting has been a scourge for genuine fans of sports, music delighted @LeoVaradkar dealing with this & building on the work by our @NoelRock who did the heavy lifting on this issue. https://t.co/rdHp635iBO

— Martin Conway (@conwayforclare) April 20, 2021

Amazing to see - Sale of Tickets Bill today @LeoVaradkar@NoelRock @DenisNaughten@nycinews

23 years after the #tickettouts idea was first floated with lots of work throughout the years.

Including.... Over And Out For The Touts? https://t.co/hRbUX36QIQ via @hotpress

— Valerie Duffy 🇮🇪 (@DuffyValerie) April 20, 2021

About time this issues was tackled - it could have been finalized in 2018 if the bill Sale of Tickets bill which I introduced in 2017 wasn't blocked by FG over the last few years.

Ticket touting bill to be brought before Cabinet today https://t.co/50WJCOJRMA via @rte

— Maurice Quinlivan TD (@QuinlivanTD) April 20, 2021