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A TD went undercover to tackle touts charging €600 for Ireland v England tickets

The first clip shows Rock meeting a man in Dublin city, who was selling two tickets in row Q in the north stand for €550.

https://www.facebook.com/FineGael/videos/10155014729498211/

FINE GAEL TD Noel Rock has gone undercover to confront ticket touts.

In a video released today, the Dublin North West confronts two touts attempting to sell tickets for this weekend’s Ireland v England rugby international.

The first clip shows Rock meeting a man in Dublin city, who was selling two tickets in row Q in the north stand for €550. The second seller, who runs his own touting business, tried to charge €600 per ticket without revealing where the seats were. He also asked for an over-the-phone card payment.

The first seller tells Rock he is charging what “supply and demand” allows him to. The second claims that €600 each is the “market rate” for the tickets, which retailed for closer to €50 each.

tout pic

Rock says he took on the touts to highlight the scale of touting.

“Fundamentally I disagree with ticket touting. It stops fans like you and me from going to matches and concerts at the price we should be going to them for.

“The IRFU disagree with touts, the GAA disagree with touting, the FAI disagree with touting, but the law doesn’t disagree with touting.

“That’s why I’ve proposed a Bill to change the law and make sure that above cost ticket selling will no longer take place. The law has passed the first stage in the Dáil but it still has a bit further to go.”

Rock said the legislation was needed because regulation was not functioning, and said his bill was based on Belgian legislation which has had a positive effect.

The move was prompted earlier this year by the mounting anger among U2 fans who were unable to buy tickets for the band’s Croke Park concert in before they sold out. Tickets soon became available through resale websites and private touts at inflated prices.

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