Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady has said Deputy Stephen Donnelly’s vote on Thursday on ticket touting legislation will show how serious he is about tackling the issue.
Sinn Féin’s Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill 2017 brought forward by Maurice Quinlivan TD will be voted on this Thursday.
Ahead of this vote, Teachta Brady said:
“I am calling on Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and his party Fianna Fáil, to vote against Fine Gael’s amendment which will see a nine month delay in tackling ticket touting.
“Fianna Fáil are welcome to make amendments to the Bill at Committee Stage, where all amendments should be discussed and debated.
“It is quite clear that this amendment was brought forward for the benefit of Deputy Noel Rock who has been put out given his own Bill on this, co-sponsored by Deputy Donnelly, has not moved beyond First Stage.
“Throughout the summer months, a number of concerts and festivals will take place, and as is the case every summer, we will see tickets online that were bought for €100 being sold for €1,000, unless we take action.
“Last week, Deputy Donnelly contacted my colleague Deputy Quinlivan to commit his support to our Bill however, it is now apparent that Deputy Donnelly will not support the Bill and is instead, content to leave consumers at the mercy of ticket touts.
“I am calling on Deputy Donnelly to refrain from playing petty politics with this issue. In Deputy Donnelly’s own words only a few months ago, ‘we need to take this issue very seriously’.
“In fact, according to Deputy Donnelly, in January, ticket touting legislation could not be passed quick enough and he went as far as asking the Government to give this legislation ‘a higher level of consideration by the Business Committee than it would otherwise be given’.
“So, Deputy Donnelly has talked the talk on the need to urgently address ticket touting through legislation, and on Thursday; he has an opportunity to vote to do exactly that.”
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