Laois councillor calls for investigation into Ticketmaster Oasis ticket controversy

A Laois councillor has requested the Government to carry out an investigation into the 'ticket tout' behaviour of Ticketmaster in the recent Oasis ticket controversy.

Labour Cllr Marie Tuohy from Portlaoise tabled a motion to the September meeting of Laois County Council, asking Ministers to review how Ticketmaster prices their tickets.

"TicketMaster seems to be the ticket tout now and consumers are the ones losing out," she said.

"Sometimes these tickets are a Christmas gift and buyers are kind of cornered with the inflated price. I think there is a role here for the competition and consumer authority to investigate. There is already legislation in place since 2021, banning the resale of tickets above face value.

"The most recent event is the sale of tickets for the Oasis concerts. Ticketmaster use the dynamic pricing strategy, eg if enough people are looking to buy, demand goes up and so does the price.

"It is a cynical form of marketing in an area where Ticketmaster pretty much have a monopoly. Fans spend hours in online or phone queues, and then when they finally get a chance to make a purchase, are shocked at the inflated prices and often buy through stress. Oasis tickets were advertised from €86.50, went to €176 and then to more than €400.

"There should be transparancy. Consumers should be fully informed of the full price and charges, not when they are about to buy the tickets. Inflated prices also exclude a huge number of people," the Labour councillor said.

Her motion was seconded by Sinn Féin Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, who claimed that the Coldplay tickets cost €400 to €600.

"When there's a big band you can't get a hotel room either. You'd go abroad quicker. Outside of this country you're looked on as a rip-off culture," she said.

Cllr Willie Aird suggested that Croke Park should raise its price accordingly to promotors.

"Give the money back to the clubs," he suggests.

Cllr Aisling Moran said "O'Moore Park should be doing concerts". 

Cllr Tuohy's motion asked "that this council call on Minister Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Minister Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, to review the pricing strategies employed by Ticketmaster in regard to concert and event ticket sales".

A letter will now be sent to the Ministers by Laois County Council with the request.

A reply has been sought by the Leinster Express / Laois Live from Ticketmaster.