Rip-off ticket touts will be hit with €100,000 fines or thrown in jail for up to two years if they try and scam punters when we all get back to gigs and matches after Covid-19.
It will be outlawed to sell on tickets for more than their face value.
And there is a special section dealing with anyone looking to make a killing out of the delayed Euro 2020 matches coming here next summer.
The tough new legislation proposals bringing in the new powers were approved by ministers at Cabinet this morning and will soon be the law.
The Bill was introduced by business minister Leo Varadkar and follows similar legislation proposed by former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock and then-Fianna Fail TD Stephen Donnelly back in 2017.
There were some sticking points that might have meant the previous legislation would have been knocked back as being anti-competitive, but these have been ironed out now.
So the Government has decided that now is the right time to act as touts would be looking forward to a bonanza when social distancing eventually ends and entertainment and sporting venues reopen to their full capacity.
There will undoubtedly be pent-up demand for getting out and enjoying life in full again and Mr Varadkar said he is keen to ensure that people don’t get ripped off.
He said: “Touts and reselling websites ruin gigs and matches for everyone making it harder to get a ticket in the first place and driving up prices.
“This is about making sure people aren’t getting ripped off once live events, matches and concerts get up and running again, especially considering numbers are likely to be restricted to begin with.
“There is a specific provision in the Bill for the Euro 2020 championships next year, banning the unauthorised sale of tickets for matches.
“We want to make sure everyone gets a fair shot at getting tickets at face value.
“This legislation is also hopeful.
“We’re planning for the time when we can go to gigs, festivals and matches again.”
The Bill will ban the resale of tickets to live events, matches and concerts in designated venues at a price above face value.
There is an exemption for amateur sports clubs and registered charities for fundraising purposes.
A person found guilty of an offence under the act will face a fine of up to €100,000 or up to two years imprisonment.
Exemptions apply for the sale or advertising for sale of tickets for events in designated venues by or behalf of charitable organisations and amateur sports clubs.
