Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 4

Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.

Denis Naughten

Question:

592 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has received responses to queries raised with other Departments and the Attorney General relating to the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill, 1998; if his Department has prepared a submission for the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation; when he hopes to present his submission to the joint committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8179/01]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid):

My Department has received information in response to queries raised with the Office of the Attorney General and other relevant Departments regarding the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill, 1998. This information is currently under consideration by my Department.

The Deputy will appreciate that as this Bill was initiated as a Private Members' Bill, Departments did not have an opportunity to provide input in its preparation or to carry out any prior assessment of its feasibility and implications for other services. As I have indicated previously, the views already expressed by these Departments have indicated that the Bill, as currently drafted, raises a number of important issues, including possible constitutional implications such as the rights to private property, the freedom to contract, as well as a number of issues relating to enforcement, policing and Garda powers, all of which require careful and detailed consideration, before it would be appropriate to proceed with consideration of the Bill.