I want to ask the Taoiseach about an issue that has raised its head on a regular basis over the past number of years. We have all experienced and heard Ministers' comments on the rip-off that occurs on a regular basis for tickets for major international events, matches, concerts etc. This has been a problem of some proportion within the Gaelic Athletic Association for some years. I recall being in Jones's Road one day and speaking to the Taoiseach, long before he became Taoiseach, and talking about the matter.

I noticed that two tickets for a U2 concert, normally costing between €60 and €80, were on sale for €500 within minutes of the tickets going on sale. This morning I read of two terrace tickets for the Ireland-England rugby match in Lansdowne Road attracting a bid of €1,350. This is disgraceful. The only people who profit from this practice are ticket touts. In France and Britain there is very strong anti-tout legislation. If we read over the reports of these annual cases of clear rip-off, we read that Ministers are appalled at the carry on. I understand that even last night at The Point there were ticket touts operating. It beggars belief that thousands of genuine fans of football, soccer, rugby, music, concerts or whatever cannot legitimately get their hands on tickets, while tickets find their way into the hands of touts and are sold at exorbitant rates on the black market. A Member told me this morning that he has paid €500 for two tickets for Pavarotti.

As a person interested in sport and with a connection to the music world, does the Taoiseach not think it is time the Government considered the issue? Instead of having Ministers say they are appalled by it, the Taoiseach could introduce legislation that would in some way restrict, limit or put out of business the touts who charge exorbitant fees and rip off genuine fans of sport and music who cannot find a way of getting tickets. I am sure the Taoiseach must agree with that. The matter does not appear on his legislative programme, but perhaps he will do something about it now.

Subject to correction, I understood we passed legislation some years ago making touting illegal.

It is not working.

I introduced a Bill on it but it was voted down.

I remember we debated the issue then. For as long as I can remember, touts, of whom there are plenty around my part of the world, have always been fearful of gardaí and try to avoid them. I presume there is some reason for that and that there is some law in existence on the issue.

The ticket can be confiscated.

However, I cannot recall hearing whether the law is enforced rigidly or whether there have been prosecutions. There is an issue. U2 and rugby tickets are like gold dust. It is almost impossible to get tickets for the Ireland-England match and this is a real problem. I wanted to build a national stadium so that a large number of people would fit in it and we would not have the problem. At least I funded Croke Park. A national stadium is probably the best way of eliminating the problem, but subject to that happening — it will sometime — I agree exorbitant prices are being charged.

In recent years many of the sporting organisations have tried to operate a system of only giving a small quota of tickets to individuals to cut out the practice. Other sporting organisations have tried to issue tickets through clubs in order to eliminate the problem. Obviously, no matter what is done, some people will try to profit.

If an old law exists, it probably involves a low fine that is not a deterrent. The issue of trying to stop people selling on tickets would not be easily enforced, no matter how it was done. As Deputy Kenny wants me to consider the issue, I will raise it and see what happens.

Thank you. Deputy Naughten introduced a Bill on the issue previously which was accepted on Second Stage but voted down by the Government on Committee Stage. Deputy Rabbitte did the same on behalf of the Labour Party.

I was in Murrayfield, filling in for the Taoiseach, on Saturday. There was no evidence of ticket touts there because there was a problem filling the stadium which holds 67,000. If the GAA motions committee got its act together, this matter might be discussed. In respect of this clear problem, will the Taoiseach instruct the appropriate Minister, be it the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to look again at the two Private Members' Bills that were introduced by Fine Gael and the Labour Party in previous years, and at the legislation that exists in the United Kingdom and France, which is strong and clear?

The problem is that when tickets are issued officially, some organisations or persons decide either to raffle them or let them out on the black market. The essence of the matter should be that no ticket should be resold beyond its retail value without the consent of the organisation. For example, clubs have raffled All-Ireland GAA tickets with the consent of the GAA to raise money for the clubs. This was a prolific practice in the run-in to last year's All-Ireland. The Taoiseach should look at the legislation that exists in other countries and advise the appropriate Minister to bring the matter before the House. There are many of these major sporting and musical occasions coming up and people will be ripped off by unscrupulous touts.

I have no problem looking at that. As I said, an old law exists but I accept it is probably ineffectual as the fines and confiscations provided for have little effect. My colleagues inform me they believe a Bill was accepted in principle but was never passed. We can look at that.

Deputy Kenny has raised the matter of the practicalities of distribution which is a very difficult issue. Ticket distribution through quotas in sporting organisations annoys many genuine fans who try to buy tickets for their friends. Fans who queue for tickets also find they have difficulties. Ticket distribution through clubs is the fairest way because their members are the people who are active in the sport in question. However, people can pass on tickets, sell them or raffle them. We will examine if tough laws are in place elsewhere that would prevent tickets valued at €25 selling for €600. That is a crazy situation which would prevent any genuine fan from having the opportunity to get into a sports ground for a game let alone for a concert. I will have the matter examined.