Vol. 535 No. 1
100 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has prepared amendments to the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill, 1998; when he will publish these amendments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11685/01]
As I have previously indicated to the Deputy, the views obtained by my Department from the Office of the Attorney General and from other relevant Departments, raise serious and fundamental questions on the viability and constitutionality of the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill 1998. The views expressed by these Departments have indicated that the Bill 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 crucial issues relating to enforcement, policing and Garda powers, all of which require careful consideration before it would be appropriate to proceed with consideration of the Bill at Committee Stage.
While I appreciate the Deputy's genuine concerns in relation to ticket touting, I am sure he will also appreciate that as this Bill was initiated as a Private Members' Bill, Departments did not have an opportunity to input into its preparation or to carry out any prior assessment of its feasibility and its implications for other services. Accordingly, I am now arranging for the observations received by my Department to be brought to the attention of the Select Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation to seek that committee's views on how best to proceed in the light of the advice received on the viability and appropriateness of the Bill.
