Vol. 450 No. 4
10 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce legislation to provide recompense for persons who attend sporting events which are subsequently cancelled; whether her Department has had discussions with the FAI regarding reimbursement to the people who attended the recent football international at Lansdowne Road; and, if so, the outcome of such discussions. [4988/95]
I do not intend introducing legislation to provide recompense for persons who attend sporting events which are subsequently cancelled. This issue relates to consumer protection and it is not within the remit of my Department.
In regard to the recent soccer international at Lansdowne Road, my Department contacted the Football Association of Ireland to ascertain if it will make an appropriate offer to the fans who attended the abandoned match between Ireland and England.
Will the Minister agree that apart from a cost factor this was a very sad occasion for families and young people who had travelled a considerable distance to the game? I heard yesterday that Arnold O'Byrne of Opel has said he will give a young family from the west, who were so disappointed at the last game, tickets for the next game. The sports section of the Department should have an input into resolving this issue. While I accept it is not his direct responsibility, will the Minister consider introducing legislation in this area?
I, too, sympathise with the fans in Lansdowne Road that afternoon. It was a major sporting event and Ireland were winning when, out of the blue, the match was disrupted by hooligans. Prevention is normally the best form of cure. On the morning of the match I stated here that I would deal with three main areas during my term in office and one of these is crowd control and stadia safety. Since the match in Lansdowne Road, I took a number of initiatives and examined the question of crowd control and stadia safety. I spoke to my counterpart in Britain because my main concern is to discover how tickets distributed by the English Football Association got into the hands of known hooligans. I put that question to my English counterpart, but I have not yet received a satisfactory answer. Also, I visited three stadia in London, namely, Stamford Bridge, Highbury and Upton Park, and noted the security procedures in place prior to games and the arrangements between stewards and police. I intend to translate what I learnt there into guidelines for stadia here.
Does the Minister not accept that at least a refund should be given to those who purchased tickets for the match at Lansdowne Road and, if not, they should receive a replacement ticket for the next international there? If one buys a faulty product or is given a bad meal in a restaurant, one is entitled to a refund. Why, therefore, is that not possible in this case? The Minister should pursue the matter with the FAI. He should also examine the question of ticket sales because it never ceases to amaze me how ticket touts gain access to so many tickets.
The creativity of some people to obtain tickets for sporting events also amazes me. The fans who attended the match in Lansdowne Road are entitled to be aggrieved. As I stated already, I contacted the FAI who indicated it is considering ways of compensating those who were disappointed on the evening in question.
In regard to ticket distributions, through the English Football Association's travel club tickets got into the hands of hooligans who were previously deported from Italy and Holland and I am pursuing the matter with the English authorities. The security aspect is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Mr. Justice Finlay.
Will the Minister of State consider introducing legislation covering control on ticket sales and refunds? Will he take up the matter with the responsible Department?
I do not know how I can impose the heavy hand of Government on voluntary organisations in the context of the sale of tickets. I have asked that secure systems be put in place and I hope all the questions raised will be answered before the match is replayed. I am actively pursuing the matter with the English authorities and with the Football Association of Ireland but, as I said, the security aspect is a matter for the inquiry and the Minister for Justice.
Does the Minister of State agree that people travel at great cost from all over the country to such events? Does he also agree that on the night in question people travelled to be provided with a service which included entertainment? Will he agree that they were entitled to that service, but did not receive it and that, therefore they are entitled to compensation? Has the Minister of State's Department examined the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act in this regard? Is it possible for those who attended the match to take a case under that Act?
The matter of ticket sales is not my responsibility, it is a matter for the Minister responsible for consumer protection. I will communicate the Deputy's concerns to the responsible Minister. I am a Minister of State with responsibility for sport. I concur with the Deputy's sentiments that those who attend football matches for enjoyment should not have their fun spoiled by hooligans and we will do everything possible to prevent a recurrence of that terrible night.
The Minister of State stated that when he was in London he examined the facilities and back-up services of three stadia. Does he intend providing similar back-up services here, that is, mounted policemen on the perimeter of the field? I hope this is not the direction in which we are heading in terms of sport here. Neither do we want people caged in our sports grounds.
Unlike other parts of Europe, the culture in terms of sport here is one of non-violence. I hope the provisions I implement through the code of practice will reflect our culture and attitude to sport. While we will make provision for accommodating foreign fans, the standard of our stadia is more important than the question of crowd control. We do not have that type of problem here.
