Irish rugby and Electric Picnic fans being targeted by online touts – Rock

Anti-ticket tout legislation is needed to tackle online touts, with tickets for the Rugby World Cup final selling on one website for more than €1,000, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Fine Gael for Dublin North West, Noel Rock, said his legislation must be enacted without delay as consumers continue to be faced with extortionate prices for events.

“This week on third party ticket re-sale site Viagogo there are tickets for the Rugby World cup final in Japan selling for more than €1,000.

“On the same site tickets for this weekend’s Electric Picnic festival are being sold for up to €395.

“Touts are clearly aggressively targeting Irish rugby fans ahead of next month’s Rugby World Cup in Japan with tickets for Ireland’s opening group match on offer for as much as €295.

“This gouging of consumers must end, genuine sporting and music fans are being ripped off. People should be able to attend sporting or music events without being faced with extortionate prices due to a gap in our consumer legislation.

“I understand that work is still ongoing on amendments to the Prohibition of Above-Cost Ticket Touting Private Members’ Bill which was prioritised in the last Dáil term.

“This work must be completed without delay, so the legislation can be submitted to the European Commission for consideration and we can move forward with the final stages of the legislative process.

“We have waited long enough for an end to touts making significant profits from fans.

“As Ireland prepares to host four Euros2020 matches next summer it is imperative that we do not drop the ball on this,” he added.