Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Credit Card Charges.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

109 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to introduce legislation or regulations to prevent extra charges being applied to credit card purchasers of concert tickets. [16046/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I have no plans to introduce legislation to prohibit booking fees, per se.

The Consumer Information (Advertisement for Concert or Theatre Performances) Order, 1997, requires that every written advertisement for a public concert or theatre performance must indicate the admission price and, where applicable, and separately, the amount, in monetary or percentage terms, of any additional charges and the circumstances in which such charges are payable. The order also requires that all other forms of advertising must state the admission price together with a reference to the fact that an additional charge may be payable in certain circumstances. The order further stipulates that where an advertisement makes a statement about the method of payment for tickets and there are restrictions in relation to that method of payment to be applied, the extent of those restrictions shall be clearly stated in the advertisement. The Director of Consumer Affairs may initiate prosecutions for breaches of the order.