Vol. 566 No. 2
72 Ms Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has plans to outlaw the black market sale of tickets for major events in view of the increasing evidence of purchasers being asked to pay prices of many times the face value and the huge profits that can be made in this area of the black market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12261/03]
I have no plans for legislation in the area of ticket touting. I am not convinced that legislation is the answer to this objectionable practice. Rather both suppliers and purchasers have their parts to play.
The primary responsibility for the sale of tickets lies with the governing bodies or the event organisers and the onus is on them to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of those tickets. Consumer legislation protects purchasers from false or misleading advertising, labelling or price indication and ensures the consumer is armed with sufficient information about a product or service, including price. In the area of tickets the Consumer Information (Advertisements for Concert or Theatre Performances) Order 1997 obliges event organisers to show the full price, including all hidden charges, when advertising a concert or theatre performance.
Against this background and in a free market economy it is ultimately a matter for each consumer to decide whether he or she is prepared to pay over the odds for a good or service which he or she wishes to purchase.
