Tickets.ie collapse has had 'devastating impact' on festivals

This 'is literally wipe-out territory, says Pearse Doherty as Dáil told of company taking steps to place Tickets.ie into liquidation

The Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, faces potential losses of up to €283,000. 

The collapse of Tickets.ie has had a "devastating impact" on several festivals across Ireland, the Dáil has been told.

Oshi Software Limited, the company which operates the site, last week said the directors are taking steps to place the company into liquidation and appoint a liquidator.

They said customers with tickets for upcoming events should wait to hear from the promoters directly.

"The winding up is being conducted in accordance with the Companies Acts," they said in a statement. 

"All enquiries should be directed to the appointed liquidator whose details will be published here once appointed.

"Customers with tickets for upcoming events should wait to hear from the relevant event promoter directly regarding their event."

In the Dáil on Thursday, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said some not-for-profit festivals such as the Rory Gallagher International Festival in his own county in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, face potential losses of up to €283,000. 

This "is literally wipe-out territory", said Mr Doherty.

"This is an excellent festival that attracts people internationally and keeps the name of Rory Gallagher alive. It is also very important for the local economy. 

"There are others that have been mentioned, such as Liberty, Rockathon, and other events. There is a serious flaw in the legislation that has to be fixed. This should never be allowed to happen and it has to be dealt with. However, the immediate priority here is ensuring we do not lose these festivals."

Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn said three festivals — the Rory Gallagher International Festival, Rockathon and the Cowboys & Heroes festival in Leitrim — organisers have reported being owed a collective €580,000.

"When a licensed travel agent collapses, customers' moneys are protected because it was decided long ago in this House that businesses holding public moneys would be subject to safeguards in respect of those moneys," he said. 

"It should trouble every member of this House that ticketing agencies in this State that may hold hundreds of thousands of euro belonging to promoters and ticket buyers can collapse overnight with no equivalent protections, that is, no ring fencing, no bond, and no money supplied. 

"The moneys will simply vanish into liquidation. That is a gap in the law of the State and it must be closed."

Enterprise minister Peter Burke said that a High Court case has been lodged and he was restrained in what he could say, but added that he wanted to see events affected go ahead.

"I do not want to make any promises because it is very early days yet. This has only happened in the past 10 days. We want to see the events crystalise, and I will do all I can in working with [Patrick O'Donovan, the arts minister]. 

"I want to see festivals take place in the communities that derive so much from them."