Ticket touts face €100k fine and two years imprisonment as Government approves new legislation

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The Government has approved legislation to prevent ticket-touting and reselling across Ireland.

It might seem like a lifetime ago since we've last been able to purchase tickets for any event that isn't virtual. However, there is some good news for sporting and music fans who will now benefit from a "fairer sales system" for buying tickets for matches, and concerts when the country reopens.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar and the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy, received Government approval to publish legislation which will ban reselling of tickets above face value for large events.

The Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill of 2021 was agreed by Government on Tuesday. It will be published and introduced to Dáil Éireann at the earliest opportunity, and will then be enacted as early as possible.

There is an exemption for amateur sports clubs and registered charities for fundraising purposes.

“Ticket touts rip us all off, driving up ticket prices and making it harder to get a ticket in the first place. 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," Varadkar said.

“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 11 June, when it is scheduled to begin.”

Troy added: “This Bill will stop opportunists with no interest or involvement in music or sport enriching themselves at the expense of sports and music fans, sporting bodies, artists, and promoters.

“While matches and concerts with fans are still some way off, we expect numbers allowed to attend are likely to be restricted in the initial phases of eased restrictions. Ticket touts could only be too willing to exploit the opportunities presented by restricted attendances for popular events."