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A LAW THAT will ban ticket touting and reselling tickets for large events is set to be approved by Cabinet today.
The legislation aims to deal with the problem of so-called ticket-touting for major events, such as sports matches and concerts at venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or more.
It also proposes to ban the above price resale of tickets for live events at such venues and proposes penalties of a fine of up to €100,000 or up to two years imprisonment for anyone caught attempting to sell on tickets at an inflated price.
The Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill, once approved, will be published later this week.
Speaking previously about the legislation, Tánaiste and Enterprise minister Leo Varadkar said:
“Ticket touts rip us all off, driving up ticket prices and making it harder to get a ticket in the first place. This new law will ban the resale of tickets to large events and venues at a cost over face value, making sure everyone gets a fair price.”
Once enacted, operators of larger venues will be able to apply to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for designation of that venue.
When designated, reselling of tickets above the original sales price for that venue will be prohibited.
The legislation also provides that event organisers or venue operators may apply for the designation of events which takes place on an annual or other periodic basis in the same venue.
How will it work?
When a ticket is sold for an event which has been designated or which is to take place in a designated venue then the original buyer must be given clear information – both on the ticket itself, and also through advertisements – that tickets cannot be resold above the face value.
While the tickets can be resold for face value of lower, resellers of these tickets must also provide information on the original sale price of the ticket and the location of the seat or standing area to which the ticket entitles the holder to gain admission.
The legislation has been a long time in the making, with the idea for the proposed law first coming from former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock and Fianna Fáil TD (now minister) Stephen Donnelly during the last Dáil.
Last year, Live Nation, the global live music entertainment company and owner of Ticketmaster, raised concerns about the timing of the bill.
It noted the impact of the pandemic on the sector and stated that “the current priority must be to get the sector working again”.
Live entertainment
While it may seem some way off before gigs and live events can again take place with an audience, yesterday there were some hopeful comments from Higher Education Minister Simon Harris on how the easing of restrictions in May might go further than was originally indicated – particularly for outdoor activities.
A new new advisory group on reopening the live entertainment sector, meanwhile, made up of promoters and entertainment industry experts, is to draft a report that will advise NPHET and the government on what the requirements should be to safely manage events as lockdown restrictions are eased.
Antigen testing is set to play a key role, as it has in other countries, with Leinster Rugby already having submitted plans to government to use rapid antigen testing to allow the return of spectators to matches at the RDS Arena.
As regards the rest of the Covid reopening plan – details of what May, June and July will look like should be provided by Cabinet next week, according to Harris.
He said the full opening of construction, retail, and personal services like barbers and hairdressers are likely to take place in May.
It is believed that all retail will open by the second week in May, while intercounty travel is to be allowed around the June bank holiday.
Outdoor activities
Harris said it may be possible to “go further” with some outdoor activities if virus numbers stay they as they are.
Meanwhile the Licensed Vintners Association are calling for all pubs – traditional and gastro – as well as other hospitality venues to be allowed to provide an outdoor service from 24 May.
The group states that outdoor activity is widely acknowledged as being relatively safe, adding that the end of May represents a reasonable time-frame for this activity to recommence.
The LVA points out that indoor service for all hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland commences on 24 May, the same day that the LVA proposes outdoor service to resume in the Republic.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged earlier in the year that the government will have to reflect on what to do if restrictions in Northern Ireland are eased at a much faster pace than the Republic.
He told TheJournal in February that there the time would come when the two jurisdictions would “diverge”.
“We’ll have to examine that, we’ll have to reflect on how we deal with that,” he said at the time.
Vaccine rollout update
While today’s Cabinet meeting will is not set to sign off on the summer’s easing of restrictions, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will be giving ministers an update on the vaccine rollout.
The Government confirmed on Saturday that it is sticking with the current age-based approach to the rollout, but considerations are still being made in whether the gap between two vaccines being administered should be extended.
While it had been speculated upon that a memo might be going to Cabinet today on the matter, it is understood that the government will make a decision on extending the gap between jabs by the end of the week rather than today.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said yesterday that the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn and his team are examining it at the moment, with advice to government expected later in the week.
Proposed legislation is also to be brought to Cabinet by Education Minister Norma Foley that will ensure that Leaving Cert students will not get their results if parents or others lobby teachers in a bid to influence the marks they award for the accredited-grades process.
This year’s Leaving Cert will see students have the choice of whether to sit an exam in each subject or receive a calculated grade, to be known this year as SEC-Accredited Grades.
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Career choice and career often turn out to be two different things.
@Brendan O’Brien: When i done my leaving cert in 1999 i got very low points. I was never collage material any way. I done an apprenticeship in fitting and welding. I have worked all over the world building bridges, tunnels and oil and gas refinery’s. Home now and mortgage free at 36. Collage is not the be all to success. Even people who do poorly in school can be successful if they choose the right career.
@Jamie Jj Tobin: fair play to you Jamie – you are right – its not for everyone. but whatever you do, it is important to commit to it and take your opportunities as you seem to have done. good example for many in the next few months…
I know someone who always wanted to be a doctor but didn’t get the points so their parents (very ambitious) persuaded them to aim for teaching, I remember the father telling me “nice secure government job”, I told him if their heart wasn’t in they would regret it. Either way they did a science degree. The second it was done they turned around and used graduate entry to get into medicine.
If you want something bad enough, there is a way.
I work in a supermarket as a checkout supervisor, not the most glamour job in the world but I love it! I meet new people every day, I like to talk alot so that helps :) and I’m a good problem solver, I had good leaving cert results but money for college was a factor but I have to say I love where I am pays the bills let’s me live a decent life and I’m never hungry I could ask for more..
@Conaire DeBhairduin: What are your views on the potential of automation replacing all check outs in supermarkets over the coming years. Is this something that worries you?
@will: boom!
@will: who’ll check the check outs?, who’ll check the check out check out?
@iohanx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrmMk1Myrxc Nobody apparently!
I was in a terrible place mentally, recently diagnosed and placed on medication, but was told that completing the leaving cert was my best option. I passed everything, did brilliantly in the only subject I cared for, but still not enough points to get into college. I went to further education, it was close and affordable and would give me a taste of what I could be in for from college. I completed the level 5 with a partial due to coming off of the medication and instability, then spent the next 3 years working after I moved up to Dublin. Got work hours reduced and reduced and reduced until I couldn’t afford rent, and had to move back home. Did a level 6 this year with Distinctions in all subjects, now looking to move on to do an English Bachelors at 24 and then go into teaching.
Took me 6 years before I found out what I wanted to do.
@Shannon Mcg: good luck, don’t give up!
My career advise at school was,
“You may as well emigrate, there is nothing here for you.”
So I did, and had a great time before eventually returning.
@Brian McDonnell: I did the same but without having been given any advice. It forced me to become independent at 22 and was a very positive life lesson.
@Brian McDonnell:
how long ago? Just curious, as members of my family were told and did the same in the eighties.
@Denis Moynihan: Yeap….the career choice was work elsewhere or the dole here, so any job would do, from warehouses to offices, building sites to factories. As long as I could pay my way I wasn’t too fussy.
@P.J. Nolan: Late 80′s.
The notion that when you sit your leaving cert is when you should make your career choice is totally outmoded and ridiculous anyway.
@Conor Paddington: the way careers change and jobs change, continuing education is vital. 46 and still don’t know what to do.
My parents supported me in every step I took to get my degree but they always said that the subjects I picked to study at college was my own choice.
@davo gazeley: exactly.
Left school after a not so great leaving cert about 30 years ago, went to UK and became a Telecom Engineer in London – - 5 years later became a Commercial Diver in the Middle east – - 6 years later did a degree in Computers as a mature student and now working in the IT area. My parents did not influence me but they always had my back which is the most important thing and thats what I will try to do with my children. Do your best in the exams but try not to get worked up on it (its hard I know).There are so many avenues you can go down when choosing a career and you will change as it suits. Just be there for the kids when needed with a helping hand and supportive guidance.
The number of points I got in the leaving decided
My mother was a stripper and my father a debt collecter. I became a priest. They’re still struggling with the shame of it.
Me uncle Paddy. He gave me his old van and a gallon of diesel and said:
‘There you go kid – the world is your oyster’
I never looked back.
No. For most people, only themselves know what they want to do
My parents were very supportive of any choice I was to make. They didn’t inspire the career I would take, but they inspired me to be hard working, ambitious and to do exactly what I wanted and they would support me as much as they could. I couldn’t have asked for better.
No one’s parents should directly influence or choose their child’s career or CAO. It is up to the individual to choose a path they are interested in. Advice can go a long way, but it is ultimately your life and your choice.
TBH I don’t care what career my kids choose. I will be proud of them regardless. Though I did dissuade my daughter from putting nursing and midwifery as her first choices along with help from the guidance counselor. Weighing up pay, working conditions, social life, family life, benefit packages and so on. She has stem subjects at her 5 top options. Nursing and midwifery as last resorts.
@Lily:
So you did influence her decisions
@P.J. Nolan: not really, the guidance counselor did. I told her what i thought but she was adamant to do midwifery that was until the guidance counselor told her the realities of her choice and explored stem subjects. So really it was the guidance counselor who influenced her cao choices. I can’t force her to choose any subjects neither would I want to, it’s her life to live how she pleases. If she dose midwifery I’m sure she will be happy and I’ll still be proud though probably worry if she is eating enough, getting her legally required lunch breaks and so on.
Generally when a parent says one thing, kids do the complete opposite.
Dissuading her was just me pointing out all the bad bits of the job. But she didn’t listen until the guidance counselor advised her not to go for it. The guidance counselor didn’t know my thoughts but I was delighted that we were on the same wavelength and convinced her to do stem subjects. She really did help. Had the guidance counselor told her to stick with nursing I could accept that too.
I have much respect for people in health care. It’s a noble job.
@Lily: Jesus Christ will you go and tell that girl that she can do anything she wants! It doesn’t matter about money and life balance when you love what you do! How dare you influence a young person away from what she is telling you what she wants to do! I work long hours, weekends and not for amazing pay but with great people. I’d prefer my child was a nurse than working in a stable, well paid banking role or many others instead of working among the kindest hard working people around. Give her the approval to change her mind and don’t live through her!
Yeah my Ma was a huge influence ‘Get off your arse and get a job, you lazy shite’ worked wonders.
@Dermot Lane: Same here. Best of luck son and don’t come back was about the jist of it.
Now I have kids I finally understand.
As the first person from my all-girls secondary school to do engineering of any sort in college it’s fair to say I wouldn’t have even considered it if my father hadn’t been an engineer. As he was a computer engineer we always had technology around the house so I had far more experience with computers than anyone else in my school. Heck when my primary school got a photocopier for the first time I was put in charge of it rather than any of the teachers and I was only 10.
I wouldn’t say parents but older sisters and brothers as well as their friends where able to give realistic advice. If you know what you want at 17 I’d almost be worried about you. It’s tough to know at any age.
Parents were supportive of my choices but never told me what I should do. School was useless, they wanted me to follow one of my parents path and do the same degree as one of them and any attempts by both me and my parents to explain that wasn’t what I was interested in fell on deaf years. Just had to grin and bare it with them while doing my own research outside school.
@ztoical: same happened from my guidance counselor. She swore I should be an accountant. Had to have her look at my last maths tests so she could understand how wrong she was.
Yes, I decided at age 17 I would never be a parent, clergyman nor have anything to do with “mental health,” whatever the f. that is…
@Paul Jennings: I take it you’re not working in comedy?
No it was the computer that told me to be a taxidermist or wig maker… Oh the 90s…. coincidentally years later I am now a careers adviser trying to add a bit more thoughtfulness to the process
I think a mistake some make is they choose a course they will enjoy rather than a career they will enjoy. If i was going back to college this is what i would tell myself before i choose a course. Dont do what you will enjoy in college because you will only be in college for 3 to 6 years, whereas you will be working for thirty years.
When I was applying to university in 1989 my father told me not do computer science as it was “played out” things worked out ok but imagine getting into the field almost 30yrs ago. Still bring it up whenever I can
Had shite career guidance teacher but other teachers were much better at proposing options that suited my aptitudes. Parents worked in the hospitality industry – they only wanted me to have a 9-5 job with weekends and bank hols off – never tried to push particular subjects
Ffs, no. No one did. My choice was my choice… I’m not one who would ever be “influenced” by anyone, family member or not…
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